Izatha convulsella

Short description: Species of moth

Izatha convulsella

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  |

Animalia

Phylum:  |

Arthropoda

Class:  |

Insecta

Order:  |

Lepidoptera

Family:  |

Oecophoridae

Genus:  |

Izatha

Species:  |

I. convulsella

Binomial name
Izatha convulsella

(Walker, 1864)

Synonyms

* Gelechia convulsella Walker, 1864
* Semiocosma paraneura Meyrick, 1892

Izatha convulsella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is similar in appearance to its close relative Izatha gekkonella but is slightly larger and more white/grey in appearance and is more wide spread in geographic range than its close relative.

## Contents

* 1 Taxonomy
* 2 Description
* 3 Geographic range
* 4 Host species
* 5 References

## Taxonomy

Illustration of female I. convulsella by George Hudson.

This species was first described by Francis Walker in 1864 under the name Gelechia convulsella.[1][2] Walker based his description on specimens collected in Nelson by Mr Oxley.[3] These specimens are held at the Natural History Museum, London.[4]

## Description

The wingspan is 14–20 mm for males and 13.5–19 mm for females.[3] Adults are on wing from late September to February.[3] This species is very similar in appearance to its close relation I. gekkonella.[3] The most accurate way to confirm the identity of specimens is by dissection of the male genitalia as I. convulsella has a comb like structure in the reproductive organ of the males of the species.[3] Generally I. convulsella is slightly larger than I. gekkonella and has fewer yellow-tipped grey scales and so has a more white and grey appearance in comparison to the I. gokkonella which, as a result of having a larger quantity of these scales, has a more brownish appearance.[3] I. convulsella also has lighter coloured hindwings in comparison to I. gekkonella.[3]

## Geographic range

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[5] It is widespread in the eastern part of the South Island.[3] In the North Island, it has only been recorded from Wellington, Ōtaki, Palmerston North, Taihape and Waipawa.[3] This species is not found in Auckland.[3]

## Host species

Izatha convulsella

Larvae have been recorded living under the bark of Dacrydium cupressinum.[3] The true food plant may be lichens growing on the bark.[3]

## References

1. ↑ Dugdale, John Stewart (1988-09-23). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (in English). Fauna of New Zealand 14: 1–264. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45083134.
2. ↑ Walker, Francis (1864). "Part XXIX. Tineites." (in en). List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum 29: 563–835. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38948236. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2010-09-02). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (in English). Fauna of New Zealand 65: 1–201. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44975107.
4. ↑ "Record 1500917 Izatha convulsella Walker" (in en). 2009-05-15. https://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/9dfb777e-2296-4800-a053-b1c80fd30bac/resource/bb909597-dedf-427d-8c04-4c02b3a24db3/record/1500917.
5. ↑ "Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)". 2020. http://www.nzor.org.nz/names/e671b412-e022-4318-b410-4f10ce3164a7.

See also Wikidata entry Q6101647.

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