''Izatha austera'' is a species of moth in the family Oecophoridae. It was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1883 and is Endemism, endemic to New Zealand. This species can be found throughout the North Island and has also been observed in the Nelson region in the South Island. The larvae of ''I. austera'' 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.

Taxonomy

''I. austera'' was first described, as ''Semiocosma austera'', by Edward Meyrick in 1883, in brief, and again in greater detail in 1884. Meyrick used two specimens collected in the Wellington Botanic Garden, Botanic Garden and forest in Wellington in January. In 1915 Meyrick placed this species in the genus ''Izatha''. George Hudson (entomologist), George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species in 1928. The Type (biology), lectotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Description

Hudson described the larvae as follows: Meyrick described the adults of the species as follows: The wingspan is 13–19 mm for males and 16.5–25 mm for females. This species is variable in its forewing colouration. ''I. austera'' also has noticeable scale-tufts on its forewing. It can be confused with Izatha dasydisca, ''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.

Distribution

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

Biology and behaviour

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

Habitat and host species

Larvae feed during the winter. 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''.

References

External links

Photograph of lectotype specimen
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6101634 Oecophorinae Moths described in 1883 Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand