Phil Bendle Collection:Izatha churtoni (Lichen moth)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Oecophoridae
Genus: Izatha
Species: I. churtoni
Binomial name: Izatha churtoni
Common name: Lichen moth (40 species recognised in New Zealand).

Izatha churtoni is a moth of the Oecophoridae family (Concealer moths). It is endemic to New Zealand, and it widespread in the North Island.
The wingspan is 18–31.5 mm for males and 24.5–30 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to February.
Larvae have been recorded in dead branches of Coriaria arborea. One specimen was reared from a larva in dead Fuchsia excorticata. Further rearing records are from dead wood of Alnus rubra, Quercus species and Pittosporum tenuifolium.

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