Izatha mesoschista

Izatha mesoschista is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Izatha mesoschista
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Oecophoridae
Genus:
Izatha
Species:
I. mesoschista
Binomial name
Izatha mesoschista
Meyrick, 1931

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931[1] using seven specimens collected by George Hudson in Wellington during the months of December and January.[2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 work The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Izatha balanophora[3] but later corrected his taxonomic error in 1939.[4]

Description

The larva of this species has not been described.[5]

The adult moth has a wingspan of 15.5–21 mm for males and 17–25 mm for females.[5] Adults are on wing from October to February.[5]

The appearance of the adult moths of this species is variable and as a result it was originally confused with Izatha balanophora.[5] However it can be distinguished from this species as I. mesoschista has a bold black line in the middle of the disk on its forewings.[2] This line also assists in distinguishing I. mesoschista from Izatha epiphanes.[5] Other than using their collection location as a guide, it is difficult to distinguish between I. mesoschista and Izatha haumu.[6] I. haumu is found at the top of the North Island and I. mesochista is present south of this locality, over the rest of the North Island.[7] However a male I. mesoschista can be distinguished from both I. haumu and I. epiphanes by the species characteristic three pronged tip of its genitalia.[5]

Distribution

I. mesoschista is endemic to New Zealand.[8][9] This species has been found throughout the North Island, except the Aupouri Peninsula, Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa.[5] It is regarded as one of the most common and widespread species in the genus Izatha to be found in the North Island.[5]

Host plants
Coriaria arborea

Specimens have been reared from Populus species, presumably from the dead wood, and also from pine logs.[5] Larvae of this species have also been extracted or reared from Coriaria arborea and Coprosma species.[7]

Trapping techniques

This species is readily attracted to light.[5]

References
  1. Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–123.
  2. Meyrick, Edward (1931). "New Species of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 92–97.
  3. Hudson, George Vernon (1928). The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 279.
  4. Hudson, George Vernon (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 448.
  5. Hoare, R. J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.
  6. Bennik, Rebecca M.; Buckley, Thomas R.; Hoare, Robert J. B.; Holwell, Gregory I. (2015-11-04). "Molecular phylogeny reveals the repeated evolution of complex male genital traits in the New Zealand moth genusIzatha(Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae)". Systematic Entomology. 41 (2): 309–322. doi:10.1111/syen.12155. ISSN 0307-6970. S2CID 83666096.
  7. Bennik, Rebecca Marie (2014). Sexual conflict and genital evolution in moths (PDF) (Thesis). University of Auckland. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  8. Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume two. Kingdom animalia : chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 465. ISBN 9781877257933. OCLC 973607714.
  9. "Izatha mesoschista Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-27.


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