Izatha walkerae
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Izatha walkerae is a lichen tuft moth in the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as "Data Deficient" by the Department of Conservation.
| Izatha walkerae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Oecophoridae |
| Genus: | Izatha |
| Species: | I. walkerae |
| Binomial name | |
| Izatha walkerae Hoare, 2010[1] | |
Taxonomy and etymology
This species was described by Robert J. B. Hoare in 2010.[1][2] Prior to its formal description this species was referred to as Izatha sp. "whorled antennae".[3] The species is named in honour of Annette Walker, who captured the holotype.[2] The holotype specimen is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
Description
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It is known from the north-eastern South Island.[2] Specimens have been collected at Port Underwood Road approximately 4 km south of Curious Cove in Marlborough, and at Lake Tennyson in Canterbury.[2]
Biology and behaviour
Very little is known of the biology of this species.[2] Adults have been recorded in November and January.[2] This species has been collected with a Malaise trap.[2] It has been hypothesised that this species is active during the day as the eyes of I. walkerae have a nude periorbital strip which is correlated with diurnal activity.[2] The host plants of this species are unknown.[2]
Conservation status
This species has been classified as having the "Data Deficient" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[4]
