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Izatha mesoschista is a moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Izatha mesoschista
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Oecophoridae
Genus:	Izatha
Species:	I. mesoschista
Binomial name
Izatha mesoschista Meyrick, 1931

Taxonomy

This species was described by Edward Meyrick in 1931[1] using seven specimens collected by George Hudson in Wellington during the months of December and January.[2] Hudson discussed and illustrated the species in his 1928 work The butterflies and moths of New Zealand under the name Izatha balanophora[3] but later corrected his taxonomic error in 1939.[4]

Description

The larva of this species has not been described.[5]

The adult moth has a wingspan of 15.5–21 mm for males and 17–25 mm for females.[5] Adults are on wing from October to February.[5]

The appearance of the adult moths of this species is variable and as a result it was originally confused with Izatha balanophora.[5] However it can be distinguished from this species as I. mesoschista has a bold black line in the middle of the disk on its forewings.[2] This line also assists in distinguishing I. mesoschista from Izatha epiphanes.[5] Other than using their collection location as a guide, it is difficult to distinguish between I. mesoschista and Izatha haumu.[6] I. haumu is found at the top of the North Island and I. mesochista is present south of this locality, over the rest of the North Island.[7] However a male I. mesoschista can be distinguished from both I. haumu and I. epiphanes by the species characteristic three pronged tip of its genitalia.[5]

Distribution

I. mesoschista is endemic to New Zealand.[8][9] This species has been found throughout the North Island, except the Aupouri Peninsula, Hawkes Bay or the Wairarapa.[5] It is regarded as one of the most common and widespread species in the genus Izatha to be found in the North Island.[5]

Host plants

Specimens have been reared from Populus species, presumably from the dead wood, and also from pine logs.[5] Larvae of this species have also been extracted or reared from Coriaria arborea and Coprosma species.[7]

Trapping techniques

This species is readily attracted to light.[5]

References

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