| Izatha heroica | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Izatha |
| Species: | I. heroica |
| Binomial name | |
| Izatha heroica | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Izatha heroica is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. [1] It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is widespread in the west part of the South Island. It has been collected in southern beech forests but larvae have been reared on dead kanuka or manuka bushes.
This species was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1926 using a female specimen taken at Flora River, Mount Arthur in January. [3] [4] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. [5] Later that year Charles Edwin Clarke, thinking he was describing a new species, discussed and named the species Izatha toreuma. [6] Clarke used a male specimen obtained from Arthurs Pass in January. [5] This specimen is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. [5] This name was synonymised by George Hudson in 1928. [7]
Philpott described the female of the species as follows:
♀. 32 mm. Head and thorax white. Palpi white, basal half of second segment externally black, also an obscure blackish ring near apex, terminal segment with a sprinkling of black scales forming an indefinite ring at tooth. Antennae fuscous mixed with white, basal segment paler. Abdomen ochreous-whitish, apical segment brown. Legs grey-whitish, tarsi banded with dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, broad, costa well arched, apex obtuse, termen rounded, oblique; white, densely irrorated with pale fuscous; seven blackish spots on costa, first at base, second at 1⁄4, third at 1⁄2, seventh at apex, and remaining three at equal distances between third and seventh; a blackish spot in disc obliquely beyond second costal, and a linear blackish mark on fold beneath this; three blackish spots forming a triangle in disc at about middle, the most apical obliquely beyond third costal; a less clearly defined spot towards apex; a series of blackish spots on termen: fringes white. Hindwings grey-whitish with an undefined dark discal spot: fringes grey-whitish. A very distinct form, larger and without the dark fasciae of the other white species. [3]
The wingspan is 23–29 mm for males and 27–32 mm for females. Adults have been recorded in January, February and early March. [5] This species can be distinguished from similar species by its larger size, its greyish coloured forewing and the absence of a conical process on the top of the head. [8]
Izatha heroica is endemic to New Zealand and can only be found in the South Island. [5] Although the species prefers the west side of the Island it has been collected in Nelson, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Westland, Fiordland, North Canterbury, Buller, Otago Lakes, Central Otago, and Southland. [5]
This species is attracted to light. [5]
This species has been found in wetter forests of the western South Island including Nothofagus forest. [5] Larvae have been reared from erect dead Leptospermum . [9] The host may have been Kunzea ericoides or Leptospermum scoparium , since both were placed in the genus Leptospermum at this time. [9] This rearing record has led to the hypothesis that the species is not dependent on beech forest for its survival. [5]
Tingena marcida is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in Canterbury. Adults are on the wing in September and October.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Izatha balanophora is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is widespread in the North Island. Larvae live off the dead bark of kānuka. The adult moths are on the wing during December to March.
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.
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.
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.
Trachypepla semilauta is a moth of the family Oecophoridae and was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1918. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in Southland. This species inhabits southern beech forest on the side of mountains. Adults are on the wing in January.
Eutorna inornata is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It was described by Alfred Philpott in 1927. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in both the North and South Islands. The larvae of this moth are leaf minors of Selliera radicans.
Hierodoris frigida is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is only found in the South Island. This species is found in two parts of that island, the Nelson/Tasman area and the Mackenzie, Otago and Dunedin areas in the southern part of the island. Although similar to H. iophanes this species can be distinguished as H. frigida has white bands on its forewings and the metallic coloured areas differ in placement. Segment 2 on the labial palp is entirely yellow and enables this species to be distinguished from the similar appearing species H. polita and H. torrida. Larvae have been collected amongst leaf litter from beneath species within the genus Thymus. It prefers open and shrubland habitats and adult moths have been observed flying close to the soil underneath Leptospermum scrub.
Hierodoris insignis is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the Nelson/Tasman districts. The larvae are leaf miners and are hosted by Celmisia species. Adults are on the wing in January. It is likely that this species belongs to another genus and as such this species is also known as Hierodoris (s.l.) insignis or 'Hierodoris' insignis.
Hierodoris stellata is a species of moth in the family Plutellidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in Fiordland and Dunedin. This species has been found in coastal native forest. Larvae feed on Astelia flower-spikes and adults are on the wing in late December and January. It has been stated that this species belongs to the genus Charixena however this placement has yet to be published. As such this species is currently known as Hierodoris (s.l.) stellata or 'Hierodoris'stellata.
Tingena apanthes is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and found on the North Island. The adults are on the wing from October to December. It appears associated with Leptospermum species and it has been hypothesised that the appearance of the adults of this species imitates faded Leptospermum leaves.
Tingena brachyacma is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the south of the South Island. This species inhabits open swamps, native forest and scrubland and has been collected amongst Leptospermum. The adults of the species are on the wing in November and December.
Tingena hemimochla is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been observed in the North Island. Adults of this species are on the wing from December until March.
Tingena morosa is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been found in the South Island in Nelson including at the Dun Mountain and in the Canterbury region. This species inhabits native forest at altitudes from 2000 to 3000 ft. Adults of this species are on the wing in December.
Tingena pallidula is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected in the Nelson and Tasman regions. Adults of this species are on the wing in February and have been collected by beating undergrowth.
Trachypepla angularis is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has been collected at Lake Rotoroa in the Nelson Lakes National Park in January. This species inhabits mixed native forest.
