Izatha taingo

Izatha taingo (Māori name pepepepe tāingo o Ngāti Kuri) is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the Department of Conservation. It is only known from the Aupouri Peninsula of Northland.

Izatha taingo
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Oecophoridae
Genus:	Izatha
Species:	I. taingo
Binomial name
Izatha taingo Hoare, 2010[1]

Taxonomy and etymology

This species was described by Robert J. B. Hoare in 2010.[1] The epithet is based on the Māori word tāingo means "speckled" or "mottled" and refers to the forewing pattern.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.[2]

Description

The wingspan is 18.5–22.5 mm for males and about 16 mm for females.[2] I. taingo is normally white or pale whitish green in colour.[2] This species is visually very similar to Izatha peroneanella.[2] The only distinguishing feature between these two species is the difference in the male genitalia.[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It has only been found on the Aupouri Peninsular of Northland.[2]

Biology and behaviour

Adult moths have been recorded on the wing in October, November and December.[2]

Conservation Status

This species has been classified as having the "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[3]

References

1. "Izatha taingo Hoare, 2010". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
2. Hoare, R. J. B. (2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201. ISBN 9780478347258.
3. Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 8.