Izatha dasydisca facts for kids

Izatha dasydisca is a special kind of moth that lives only in New Zealand. It belongs to a group of moths called Oecophoridae. This moth is considered "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. This means it's not found in many places and needs protection.

How This Moth Got Its Name

This section explains how the moth got its name. Izatha dasydisca was first officially described in 2010 by a scientist named Robert J. B. Hoare. He studied a moth collected by John S. Dugdale from a place called Mount Auckland. The name dasydisca comes from two old Greek words. "Dasys" means "shaggy," and "diskos" refers to the middle part of the moth's front wing. This name describes the little tufts of scales on its wings, which help scientists tell it apart from a similar moth, Izatha austera.

What Does Izatha dasydisca Look Like?

This moth is quite small. Its wingspan (the distance from one wingtip to the other) is about 15 to 19 millimeters for males. Females are a bit larger, with a wingspan of about 26 millimeters.

How to Tell it Apart

I. dasydisca looks a lot like another moth called I. austera. However, male I. dasydisca moths have antennae that are mottled, meaning they have patches of pale orange to reddish-brown colors. This moth also has noticeable tufts of scales on its front wings. Its hindwings are smoothly rounded and very dark. The dark hindwings help tell it apart from its close relative, I. caustopa.

Where Does Izatha dasydisca Live?

This moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found naturally nowhere else in the world. It is only known to live in the northern part of the North Island. You can find it in areas like Northland, Auckland, and Gisborne.

Life and Habits of the Moth

Scientists are still learning about Izatha dasydisca. The young moths, called larvae or caterpillars, have not been found yet. Adult moths have been seen flying in December, January, and February. Scientists have collected these moths by sweeping nets through the air or by finding them resting on tree trunks. It seems that these moths are not attracted to light traps, which are often used to catch other types of moths.

What Does it Eat?

The specific plants that the larvae of I. dasydisca eat are still unknown. However, the adult moths seem to prefer living in forest areas. They have been found in both beech forests and podocarp forests.

Protecting Izatha dasydisca

This moth has a special conservation status in New Zealand. It is classified as "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This means the moth is not very common in nature, and its populations are small. Because of this, it is important to protect its habitat and ensure its survival for the future.