Izatha gekkonella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Izatha
Species:
I. gekkonella
Binomial name
Izatha gekkonella
Hoare, 2010[1]

Izatha gekkonella is a moth of the family Oecophoridae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is only known from the region of the Taieri and Shag River catchments in eastern Otago.[2]

Description

The wingspan is 13.5–15.5 mm for males and 13.5–17 mm for females.[2] This species is very similar in appearance to I. convulsella but is slightly smaller and has a more brownish appearance.[2]

Behaviour

Adults have been recorded in October, November and December.[2]

Larvae have been recorded feeding on lichens on rock-faces, making a silken web amongst the lichens.[2]

Etymology

The name gekkonella means "little gecko" and refers to the mottled and scaly appearance of the moth under the microscope, as well as its gecko-like fondness for rockfaces.[2] Geckos are common and diverse in the region of the South Island favoured by I. gekkonella.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Izatha gekkonella Hoare, 2010". NZOR. 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hoare, Robert J. B. (2010-09-02). "Izatha (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae)". Fauna of New Zealand. 65: 1–201.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.