Izatha oleariae facts for kids

Izatha oleariae is a special type of moth that belongs to the Oecophoridae family. This moth is found only in New Zealand, meaning it is endemic there. It is considered "At Risk, Naturally Uncommon" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. You can only find this unique moth on the Snares Islands.

Discovering the Moth

This moth was first described in 1971 by a scientist named John S. Dugdale. He used moths that were collected by Peter M. Johns at Station Point on the Snares Islands. Later, in 2010, another scientist, Robert J. B. Hoare, studied this moth more closely. He provided a very detailed description of it. The original moth specimen, known as the holotype, is kept safe at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.

What the Moth Looks Like

Adult Izatha oleariae moths have full wings. Their heads and bodies are mostly grey. Their front wings are also grey but have brownish-grey patterns. These patterns include an angled mark near the base and another mark about a third of the way along the wing. There is also a clear spot at the end of the main cell on the wing. The edges of the wings have broken lines of black scales.

The back wings and the abdomen (the rear part of the body) are dark grey. Female moths look similar to males but are usually a bit paler in color. The antennae of male moths have tiny bristles that are longer than the width of each segment. These moths are quite small, measuring about 8.5 to 9.5 millimeters from their head to the tip of their wings.

Where This Moth Lives

This moth is found only in New Zealand. It is known to live only on the subantarctic Snares Islands. These islands are located south of New Zealand's main islands.

Life and Habits

The young moths, called larvae, are "wood borers." This means they dig tunnels and live inside wood. Adult moths can be seen flying around from November to February.

Plants They Use

The larvae of this moth feed on certain plants. One of their main host plants is a tree called Olearia lyallii. Larvae have also been found living in the bark of another plant, Brachyglottis stewartiae.

Protecting This Moth

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 naturally, and efforts are made to protect it.