Izatha gekkonella | |
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Izatha gekkonella on a rock face in Macraes, Otago Region | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Oecophoridae |
Genus: | Izatha |
Species: | I. gekkonella
|
Binomial name | |
Izatha gekkonella Hoare, 2010
[1]
|
Izatha gekkonella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is only known from the region of the Taieri and Shag River catchments in eastern Otago. [2]
The wingspan is 13.5–15.5 mm for males and 13.5–17 mm for females. [2] This species is very similar in appearance to I. convulsella but is slightly smaller and has a more brownish appearance. [2]
Adults have been recorded in October, November and December. [2]
Larvae have been recorded feeding on lichens on rock-faces, making a silken web amongst the lichens. [2]
The name gekkonella means "little gecko" and refers to the mottled and scaly appearance of the moth under the microscope, as well as its gecko-like fondness for rockfaces. [2] Geckos are common and diverse in the region of the South Island favoured by I. gekkonella. [2]
Izatha gekkonella | |
---|---|
Izatha gekkonella on a rock face in Macraes, Otago Region | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Oecophoridae |
Genus: | Izatha |
Species: | I. gekkonella
|
Binomial name | |
Izatha gekkonella Hoare, 2010
[1]
|
Izatha gekkonella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is only known from the region of the Taieri and Shag River catchments in eastern Otago. [2]
The wingspan is 13.5–15.5 mm for males and 13.5–17 mm for females. [2] This species is very similar in appearance to I. convulsella but is slightly smaller and has a more brownish appearance. [2]
Adults have been recorded in October, November and December. [2]
Larvae have been recorded feeding on lichens on rock-faces, making a silken web amongst the lichens. [2]
The name gekkonella means "little gecko" and refers to the mottled and scaly appearance of the moth under the microscope, as well as its gecko-like fondness for rockfaces. [2] Geckos are common and diverse in the region of the South Island favoured by I. gekkonella. [2]