Izatha huttonii

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Izatha huttonii
Izatha huttonii4 by Possums' End.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. huttonii
Binomial name
Izatha huttonii
(Butler, 1879) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Oecophora huttoniiButler, 1879
  • Semiocosma mystisMeyrick, 1888
  • Izatha huttoni(Butler, 1879)

Izatha huttonii is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from the Wellington district of the North Island, the South Island, and Stewart Island. Although similar in appearance to related species I. huttonii can be distinguished as it has a distinctive "M" shaped mark on its forewings. The larvae feed on the dead wood of makomako and karamu. Adult moths have been collected from October to March.

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using a female specimen obtained in Otago by Frederick Hutton and named Oecophora huttonii. [2] [3] In 1888 I. huttonii was synonymised by Edward Meyrick with Izatha peroneanella . [3] [4] However 2014 Robert J. B. Hoare removed I. huttonii from synonymy with I. peroneanella and reinstated it as a species. [1] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London. [3]

Description

Butler originally described the species as follows:

Allied to O. picarclla ; primaries above greyish-white ; a short bifurcate black line lying along the base of costal margin, a, Y-shaped black marking at base of median vein, and beyond it an oblong spot, above the latter a zigzag line running to the costal margin ; an irregularly zigzag black line from the centre of costal margin to the first median branch ; a ?-shaped black character on the disc, and a series of black spots round the margin of the wings, from the costa just behind the middle to the inner margin near external angle ; secondaries shining-grey, with darker subconfluent marginal spots ; apical half of fringe sordid white, intersected by a grey line; body white; wings below shining brown, with whitish margins and white fringes ; body below white, the venter with black lateral patches ; legs white externally with the tarsi black-banded, anterior pair black internally with white joints. Expanse of wings 1 inch 1 line. [2]

I. huttonii has long been confused with I. peroneanella. The differences between these species are variable and subtle. The most obvious visual distinguishing feature of I. huttonii is its forewing discal "M" mark. This mark is complete in I. huttonii where as with I. peroneanella it usually broken beyond the first stroke. In general, although both species are variable in colouration, I. huttonii tends to be a paler green and I. peroneanella is usually a brighter lime green. [1]

This species is polymorphic and comes in green and white shades. The green colouration can turn yellowish if the moth is wet. [1]

A description of larvae has yet to be positively associated with this species. [1]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. [5] It is found in the south of the North Island only around Wellington, is widespread in the South Island and is the only Izatha species found on Stewart Island. [1] I. huttonii is more common in Wellington that the similar species I. peroneanella. [1]

Biology and behaviour

Adults are on wing from November to March though one specimen has been captured in October. [1]

Habitat and host species

Aristotelia serrata Curtis's botanical magazine (Tab 7868) (8346226885).jpg
Aristotelia serrata

Larvae have been recorded feeding on dead branches of Aristotelia serrata and has been reared from Coprosma robusta . [6] The larvae are full fed in November and pupate in the wood of their hosts without making a cocoon. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Izatha</i> Genus of moths

Izatha is a genus of moths of the family Oecophoridae. They are commonly known as lichen tuft moths. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.

<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 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 copiosella</i> Species of moth

Izatha copiosella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found on the south-eastern parts of the North Island and throughout the South Island except the West Coast. Larvae are found in dead wood and are likely to use kōwhai species as hosts. The adults are night fliers and are attracted to light. They are on the wing in January and February.

<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 balanophora</i> Species of moth

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.

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

Izatha mesoschista is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

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

Izatha hudsoni is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is widespread throughout the North Island.

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

Izatha peroneanella, also known as the small lichen moth or the green lichen tuft, is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found throughout the North Island, other than the Aupouri Peninsula of Northland.

<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 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>Metacrias huttoni</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Metacrias huttoni is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. This species is endemic to New Zealand where it is known from the eastern areas of the South Island. The female of the species is flightless and buff coloured where as the male is brightly coloured and flies during the day.

<i>Austramathes purpurea</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Austramathes purpurea is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North and South Islands but has yet to be recorded at Stewart Island. It inhabits native forest. This species might possibly be confused with A. pessota, however this latter species does not have the purple hue to the forewings. The larvae of A. purpurea feed primarily on māhoe but have been recorded as feeding on, and have been reared on, narrow-leaved māhoe. The larvae pupate in a silken cocoon on moss covered ground. Adults can be found on the wing during the months of March to January but mainly occur during New Zealand's late autumn, winter, and spring. Light trapping may not be the most efficient technique for collecting this species.

<i>Austrocidaria anguligera</i> Species of moth

Austrocidaria anguligera is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is regarded as being uncommon but is frequently confused with Austrocidaria bipartita.

<i>Ichneutica virescens</i> Species of moth, also known as owlet moth

Ichneutica virescens is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, and is found in the southern North Island and throughout the South Island. The species is found in alpine, sub-alpine, and down to sea-level in grassland habitats. Adults are on the wing from November through to April. The likely larval host may be grasses, but larvae have been reared on a range of plants. The adults are similar to I. panda, I. falsidica and I. nobilia, but is distinguished by size, wing colouration, and antennae formation.

<i>Homodotis falcata</i> Species of moth endemic to New Zealand

Homodotis falcata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found in the southern part of the South Island. The larvae of this species feed on leaf litter and adults are on the wing for most months of the year. The forewings of this species can vary in depth of colour.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hoare, Robert J. B.; Rhode, Birgit E. (2010-09-02). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  2. 1 2 Butler, Arthur Gardiner (1879). "On a small collection of Heterocerous Lepidoptera, from New Zealand". Cistula Entomologica. 2: 487–511 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. 1 2 3 Dugdale, J. S. (1988). "Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 14: 95. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Meyrick, Edward (1884). "Descriptions of New Zealand Microlepidoptera. III. Oecophoridae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 16: 3–49.
  5. ↑ "Izatha huttonii Butler, 1879". www.nzor.org.nz. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Izatha huttonii (Butler, 1879) herbivore assessment". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
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