Izatha mesoschista

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

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

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

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

^ Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–123. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b Meyrick, Edward (1931). "New Species of New Zealand Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 62: 92–97.
^ Hudson, George Vernon (1928). The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 279. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
^ Hudson, George Vernon (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 448. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Hoare, R. J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
^ Bennik, Rebecca M.; Buckley, Thomas R.; Hoare, Robert J. B.; Holwell, Gregory I. (4 November 2015). "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.
^ ^a ^b Bennik, Rebecca Marie (2014). Sexual conflict and genital evolution in moths (PDF) (Thesis). University of Auckland. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
^ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.
^ "Izatha mesoschista Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

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[1] Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–123. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

[:0-2] 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. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

[4] Hudson, George Vernon (1939). A supplement to the butterflies and moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 448. Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

[:1-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Hoare, R. J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

[6] Bennik, Rebecca M.; Buckley, Thomas R.; Hoare, Robert J. B.; Holwell, Gregory I. (4 November 2015). "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.

[:2-7] Bennik, Rebecca Marie (2014). Sexual conflict and genital evolution in moths (PDF) (Thesis). University of Auckland. Retrieved 28 April 2018.

[NZIB-8] Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 465. ISBN 978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC 973607714. OL 25288394M. Wikidata Q45922947.

[9] "Izatha mesoschista Meyrick, 1931". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

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