| Izatha convulsella | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Izatha |
| Species: | I. convulsella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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.
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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]
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]
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]
Larvae have been recorded living under the bark of Dacrydium cupressinum. [3] The true food plant may be lichens growing on the bark. [3]
- ^ Dugdale, John Stewart (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera – annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264.
- ^ Walker, Francis (1864). "Part XXIX. Tineites". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 29: 563–835. Retrieved 12 February 2018 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hoare, Robert J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.
- ^ "Record 1500917 Izatha convulsella Walker". data.nhm.ac.uk. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)". NZOR. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
 | This article on a moth of the family Oecophoridae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Izatha convulsella | |
|---|---|
|
| |
|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Izatha |
| Species: | I. convulsella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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.
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]
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]
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]
Larvae have been recorded living under the bark of Dacrydium cupressinum. [3] The true food plant may be lichens growing on the bark. [3]
- ^ Dugdale, John Stewart (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera – annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264.
- ^ Walker, Francis (1864). "Part XXIX. Tineites". List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. 29: 563–835. Retrieved 12 February 2018 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hoare, Robert J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.
- ^ "Record 1500917 Izatha convulsella Walker". data.nhm.ac.uk. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)". NZOR. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
|
| This article on a moth of the family Oecophoridae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |