Izatha austera

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Izatha austera
Izatha austera 391903749.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Izatha
Species:
I. austera
Binomial name
Izatha austera
(Meyrick, 1883) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Semiocosma austeraMeyrick, 1883

Izatha austera is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. The larvae of this species feed on dead wood by tunnelling into branches of its host species. The larvae matures from September and is on the wing in the months of December to January. The adult moth is variable in colouration but is seldom observed.

Contents

Taxonomy

Watercolour by George Hudson c. 1927 Izatha austera Fig. 6 Plate XXXII The butterflies (cropped).jpg
Watercolour by George Hudson c. 1927

I. austera was first described, as Semiocosma austera, by Edward Meyrick in 1883, in brief, and again in greater detail in 1884. [3] [4] Meyrick used two specimens collected in the Botanic Garden and forest in Wellington in January. [4] [2] The lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [2] George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1928. [5]

Description

Izatha austera larva Izatha austera larva Fig 31. Plate III The butterflies full (cropped).jpg
Izatha austera larva

Hudson described the larvae as follows:

Its length is slightly over 1⁄2 in. ; slender and cylindrical ; the head is reddish-brown, highly polished ; the second segment dark brown and horny ; the third segment has two triangular brown horny dorsal plates ; the rest of the body dull ochreous, with a very broad slaty-black dorsal band and four conspicuous horny dorsal tubercles ; the terminal segment is horny, yellowish-brown ; there is a series of conspicuous lateral tubercles and a whitish lateral ridge ; all the tubercles emit long yellowish-brown bristles. [5]

Meyrick described the adults of the species as follows:

Male. — 17-18 mm. Head, antennae, thorax, and abdomen dark fuscous. Palpi dark fuscous, second joint mixed with pale ochreous, terminal joint with a suffused pale ochreous band above and below middle. Legs dark fuscous, median ring of tibiae and apex of all joints whitish-ochreous. Forewings moderate, costa gently arched, apex rounded, hindmargin oblique, hardly rounded ; dull fuscous, mixed with darker and lighter ; the lighter tint appears to form an obscure transverse fascia before middle parallel to hindmargin, and a curved transverse line from 3/4 of costa to before anal angle ; a tuft of dark fuscous scales beneath fold at 1/3 ; an arched dark fuscous mark in disc beyond middle ; hindmargin and apical fourth of costa obscurely spotted with darker : cilia fuscous, with a darker line. Hindwings dark fuscous, somewhat lighter towards base ; cilia fuscous, with a cloudy darker line. [4]

The wingspan is 13–19 mm for males and 16.5–25 mm for females. [6] This species is variable in its forewing colouration. [5] I. austera also has noticeable scale-tufts on its forewing. [6] It can be confused with I. dasydisca but the male can be distinguished as it has blackish coloured antennae, a scale-tuft on the third segment of the labial palp, and lacks the pair of large scale-tufts that I. dasydisca has on its forewings. [6]

Distribution

I. austera is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [7] This species is widespread throughout the North Island, with a single South Island record from north-west Nelson. [6] This species is present in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Rangitikei, Wellington and Nelson districts. [6]

Biology and behaviour

Host plant Coprosma grandifolia Coprosma grandifolia2 Peter de Lange.jpg
Host plant Coprosma grandifolia

Larvae live in silken tubes under the bark of dead branches of its host species. [5] The larvae live during winter months and are mature by the end of September. [5] Adults are on wing from December to February. [6] This species have been collected via sugar traps or by beating shrubs during the daytime. [5] I. austera only comes sparing to light. [6] When resting on bare tree trunks the adult moth is very inconspicuous. [5]

Habitat and host species

Larvae feed during the winter. [8] They have been recorded from dead branches of Aristotelia serrata , Coprosma grandifolia and probably Coprosma robusta , Cordyline australis , Coriaria arborea , Laurelia novae-zelandiae , Litsea calicaris , Melicytus ramiflorus and Olearia rani . [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Izatha attactella</i> Species of moth

Izatha attactella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Islands as far south as mid-Canterbury. Larvae of this species feed on the soft inner surface of the bark of dead trees and shrubs. Adults have been recorded from September to December.

<i>Izatha apodoxa</i> Species of moth

Izatha apodoxa is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from scattered localities in the southern North Island. This species is variable in appearance and comes in two forms, a grey form and a black and white form. In the grey form it is very similar in appearance to I. notodoxa and in the black and white form to I. katadiktya. At present the larvae and biology of this species is unknown.

<i>Izatha metadelta</i> Species of moth

Izatha metadelta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the North Island only. It is rare north of Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

<i>Izatha prasophyta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Izatha prasophyta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the North Island, except Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa. Larvae likely feed on rotting wood although larvae of this species have been reared on the fruiting body of the bracket fungus Bjerkandera adusta. Adults are on the wing from November to February.

<i>Izatha caustopa</i> Species of moth

Izatha caustopa is a lichen tuft moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known very locally, and very infrequently, from the southern half of the North Island: two specimens collected in 2016 were the first seen for 30 years. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Izatha dasydisca</i> Species of moth

Izatha dasydisca 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.

<i>Trachypepla euryleucota</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla euryleucota is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country, inhabiting native forest. The larvae are leaf litter feeders and have also been found feeding on and in bird nests. Adults are on the wing from December to March, are nocturnal and are attracted to light. During the daylight hours they can be sometimes be observed resting on walls or fences. It has been hypothesised that the adults resemble an opening manuka flower bud or bird droppings in order to camouflage themselves from predators. The raised tufts on their forewings possibly also assist with camouflaging this moth when they rest on lichen.

<i>Heterocrossa eriphylla</i> Species of moth

Heterocrossa eriphylla, also known as the lichen snoutlet moth, is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island. This species is regarded as relatively uncommon and inhabits native forest. The larvae feed on the healing wounds of New Zealand beech trees Fuscospora fusca and Fuscospora truncata. It pupates at its feeding site and emerges from December onward. The adult moth is nocturnal and is attracted to light. During the day the moth rests on lichen covered tree trunks where their lichen mimicking colouration assists with their camouflage.

<i>Heterocrossa gonosemana</i> Species of moth

Heterocrossa gonosemana is a species of moth in the family Carposinidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country. It inhabits native forest. Larvae feed on seeds and fruit of Griselinia lucida and possibly Griselinia littoralis. They can be extremely active when disturbed. This species overwinters as a pupa, enclosed in a cocoon, underneath its host plant. Adults are on the wing from November until February and can be found during the day resting on lichen covered tree trunks where they are well camouflaged. The adult is nocturnal and is attracted to light.

<i>Ichneutica steropastis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Ichneutica steropastis, or the flax notcher moth, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the country from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island as well as in the Chatham Islands. The larvae of this species feed on a variety of native and introduced plants however the New Zealand flax is one of the more well known host plants for the larvae of this moth. The larvae are nocturnal, hiding away in the base of the plants and coming out to feed at night. They create a distinctive notch in the leaf when they feed. The adults of this species are on the wing from October to March. Although adult specimens of I. steropastis are relatively easy to recognise they might possibly be confused with I. inscripta, I. theobroma or with darker forms of I. arotis. However I. steropastis can be distinguished as it has a long dark basal forewing streak that these three species lack.

<i>Chersadaula ochrogastra</i> Species of moth

Chersadaula ochrogastra is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.

<i>Pyrgotis plinthoglypta</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Pyrgotis plinthoglypta is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the whole country. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest. The larvae of this species feeds on rimu leaves from under a silken web. It pupates in loose cocoons amongst rimu foliage. Adults are on the wing from October to May and are night flying. They are attracted to light and can be collected by beating their host tree. The adult insect resembles a small dried fragment of rimu foliage when at rest.

<i>Tingena chloradelpha</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena chloradelpha is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North and South Islands. The larvae live underground forming silken tubes from which it feeds. It overwinters in these tubes and then pupates enclosed in a weak pale white silken cocoon. The adults of this species is variable in appearance both in the depth of colour as well as in its discal spots which may in some specimens be lacking. The adults are on the wing from October until the end of December and can be found inhabiting domestic gardens as well as cultivated land. They have been seen resting on window frames and can be found inside houses.

<i>Tingena nycteris</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena nycteris is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. This species inhabits native forest and scrubland and adults are on the wing from October to January.

<i>Tingena oporaea</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena oporaea is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Canterbury. The perferred habitat of this species is native beech forest at altitudes of 2500 ft however it has also been collected in tussock grassland. The larvae of this species are leaf litter feeders and the adults are on the wing in January and February.

<i>Tingena oxyina</i> Species of moth, endemic to New Zealand

Tingena oxyina is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the Otago region. This species inhabits native beech forest at altitudes of between 1000 – 3000 ft. Adults of this species are on the wing in January.

<i>Trachypepla anastrella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla anastrella is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. Larvae are leaf litter feeders from the host plant Olearia fragrantissima and adults are on the wing from December until March.

<i>Atomotricha isogama</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Atomotricha isogama is a moth in the family Oecophoridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1909. This species is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North and South Islands. Larvae are leaf litter feeders and have been recorded as emerging in the New Zealand spring. Adults have been observed on the wing from July to January.

<i>Trachypepla leucoplanetis</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla leucoplanetis is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in both the North and South Islands. It is the smallest moth species in the genus Trachypepla and the patterns on the forewings of adults are variable in appearance. It inhabits native forest and bush and the larvae feed on leaf litter. Adults are on the wing from October until February. T. leucoplanetis is regarded as being rarely observed and has been collected via the beating of foliage.

<i>Trachypepla protochlora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla protochlora is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in both the North and South Islands. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest and adults are on the wing from October until February. Adults can be variable in their green shaded colour as well as in the intensity of markings on their forewings. The greenish ground colouration of this moth ensures they are well camouflaged when at rest on green mosses and lichens.

References

  1. 1 2 "Izatha austera (Meyrick, 1883)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera — annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14. Wellington, N.Z.: 94. ISBN   0477025188. OCLC   20332003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. ↑ Meyrick, E. (1883). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. III. Oecophoridae [abstract]". New Zealand Journal of Science. 1: 522–525 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. 1 2 3 Meyrick, Edward (May 1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 16: 1–49 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 282. OCLC   25449322. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 462. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  8. 1 2 "Izatha austera (Meyrick, 1884) Herbivore Report". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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