Izatha convulsella

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Izatha convulsella
Izatha convulsella 105314104.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. convulsella
Binomial name
Izatha convulsella
(Walker, 1864)
Synonyms
  • Gelechia convulsellaWalker, 1864
  • Semiocosma paraneuraMeyrick, 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

Taxonomy

Illustration of female I. convulsella by George Hudson. Fig 1 MA I437892 TePapa Plate-XXXI-The-butterflies full (cropped).jpg
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 Izatha convulsella 103204727.jpg
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]

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References

  1. ↑ Dugdale, John Stewart (23 September 1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa". Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 1–264.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2 September 2010). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.
  4. ↑ "Record 1500917 Izatha convulsella Walker". data.nhm.ac.uk. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Izatha convulsella (Walker, 1864)". NZOR. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.


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