Izatha caustopa

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Izatha caustopa
Izatha caustopa female.jpg
Female
Izatha caustopa male.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Izatha
Species:
I. caustopa
Binomial name
Izatha caustopa
(Meyrick, 1892)
Synonyms [1]
  • Semiocosma caustopaMeyrick, 1892

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1892 using a female specimen collected by George Hudson in Wellington and named Semiocosma caustopa. [1] [2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 book The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. [3] The genus Semiocosma was subsequently synonymised with Izatha by Meyrick. [4] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [1]

Description

Meyrick originally described the species as follows:

♀︎ . 28mm. Head light fuscous, mixed with fuscous-whitish. Palpi ochreous-whitish, second joint suftusedly mixed with dark fuscous, terminal joint with dark-fuscous sub-basal ring and median band. Antennae rather dark fuscous. Thorax dark fuscous mixed with fuscous-whitish. (Abdomen broken.) Legs dark fuscouS; ringed with whitish ; posterior tibiae whitish. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex rounded, hindmargin almost straight, oblique ; fuscous-whitish, suffusedly mixed with fuscous and dark fuscous, veins remaining pale posteriorly ; a dark-fuscous basal patch, its outer edge angulated on discal tuft ; a large dark fuscous trapezoidal blotch occupying whole of disc, posterior edge well defined, near and parallel to hindmargin, other edges suffused ; a cloudy blackish dot in disc at 1⁄3 ; a cloudy black longitudinal streak from middle of disc to near apex, upper edge forming a rounded projection before 2⁄3 of disc, posterior extremity irregular, surrounded by fuscous suffusion : cilia fuscous, mixed with fuscous- whitish. Hindwings fuscous-whitish, posteriorly sprinkled with fuscous ; cilia fuscous-whitish, suffusedly mixed with light fuscous [2]

I. caustopa has a rather large wingspan for the genus: 24–26 mm for males and 29–31.5 mm for females. [4]

Distribution

Illustration by Hudson from The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand (1928) Izatha caustopa by George Vernon Hudson.jpg
Illustration by Hudson from The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand (1928)

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [5] [6] Although only known very locally this species has been found in the Taupo, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington areas. [4] Hudson noted this species was found in a few patches of tree fuchsia at Gollans Valley and Wilton's Bush, Wellington; he collected his last specimen in 1942. [7] A single specimen was collected in Ohakune in 1921, and two more at Puketitiri (near Napier), in 1964 and 1985. [4] I. caustopa had not been seen for 30 years when two specimens was discovered in 2016 at Bushy Park near Whanganui. [8] [9]

Biology and host species

Izatha caustopa Izatha caustopa 114403446.jpg
Izatha caustopa
kotukutuku Fuchsia excorticata Hinewai NZ.JPG
kōtukutuku

Hudson reared the moths from dead branches of kōtukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata) collected in Karori, Wellington. He noted the larvae "feed during the winter months... driving burrows through the soft wood in all directions"—like most lichen tuft moths, they are probably feeding on fungi. [3] [4] They are full grown by about October. [3] Adults have been recorded mostly in January and February, with single records for December and April. [4]

Conservation status and rarity

This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [10] Its rarity may be linked to the decline of its host tree, which is a favourite food of introduced possums. [4] It may actually be quite common in small pockets of forest in the North Island, and simply have been overlooked, since it is not attracted to bright light the way most moths are; [9] the specimens at Bushy Park were caught in a Malaise trap. [11]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

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

Izatha psychra is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as Nationally Endangered by the Department of Conservation. In 2020 it was feared that this moth was extinct as a result of a fire at the Pukaki Scientific Reserve, the last known locality of this species. However a 2021 survey found I. psychra present in the small portion of the reserve that was not damaged by the fire.

<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

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

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

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

Izatha manubriata is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the southern South Island only.

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

Izatha rigescens is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This species is classified as having the conservation status of "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation. It is only known from the Wellington coast. This species has not been seen since 1929.

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

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<i>Hierodoris stella</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

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

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

Tingena idiogama is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed on the slopes of Mount Taranaki. Its preferred habitat is native subalpine scrub and adults 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>Trachypepla aspidephora</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla aspidephora 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. Adults are on the wing from November to March and are attracted to light. The moths can be found resting on tree trunks where their colouration imitates lichens.

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

Atomotricha oeconoma is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1914. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed at Mount Taranaki, Wellington and in Dunedin. The adults emerge in June. The female adult is semi-apterous and is incapable of flight.

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

Atomotricha ommatias is a moth in the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the South Island. This species inhabits shrubland. The adults are out in the spring months of August and September and are attracted to sugar traps. The female of the species os brachypterous and is incapable of flight. Both the male and female of the species have been observed resting on fences during cold nights. The female, if touched, will hop two or three inches.

<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 lichenodes</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Trachypepla lichenodes is a moth of the family Oecophoridae first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in both the North and South Islands. It inhabits native forest and adults of this species are on the wing from November to January. The adult moths are similarly coloured to native lichen species however this colouration is variable in the extent and depth on the forewings.

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

Trachypepla photinella 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 Wellington, Wainuiomata, D'Urville Island and Christchurch. The preferred habitat of this species is native forest and adults are on the wing from December until February.

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

Trachypepla spartodeta 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. This species inhabits native forest and adults are on the wing from November to January.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–269. ISBN   0477025188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 Meyrick, E (1892). "On new species of Lepidoptera". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 24: 216–220 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 3 Hudson, G. V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 280. OCLC   25449322. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hoare, Robert R. J. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand: Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. 65: 1–201. ISSN   1179-7193. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Research, Landcare. "Izatha caustopa (Meyrick, 1892)". www.nzor.org.nz. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Gordon, Dennis P., ed. (2010). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: Kingdom animalia: chaetognatha, ecdysozoa, ichnofossils. Vol. 2. p. 463. ISBN   978-1-877257-93-3. OCLC   973607714. OL   25288394M. Wikidata   Q45922947.
  7. ↑ Hudson, George V. (1928). The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. Wellington: Ferguson & Osborn Ltd. p. 280. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Priestley, Jo (15 February 2016). "Forest & Bird - Timeline Photos | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 Maslin, John (15 February 2016). "Bioblitz uncovers vital information about insects". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  10. ↑ Hoare, R.J.B.; Dugdale, J.S.; Edwards, E.D.; Gibbs, G.W.; Patrick, B.H.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Rolfe, J.R. (2017). "Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 20: 5.
  11. ↑ Van Beynan, Jack (29 February 2016). "'Elusive' native moth re-discovered after 30 years". Stuff. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
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