Izatha balanophora

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1897 using a specimen collected by George Hudson in Wellington and named Semiocosma balanophora.[1][2] The holotype specimen is held at the Natural History Museum, London.[2] Alfred Philpott, thinking he was describing a new species, named the moth Izatha milligani in 1927.[3] The holotype specimen Philpott used is held at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. This name was synonymised by George Hudson in 1939.[4]

Meyrick described the species as follows:

♂ 21 mm. Head and thorax white, with a few dark fuscous scales, shoulders narrowly dark fuscous. Palpi white, basal half and a subapical ring of second joint, and median baud of terminal joint dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, moderate, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely rounded; white, with a few fuscous and dark fuscous scales ; elongate dark fuscous marks along costa at base, before middle, and beyond middle ; stigmata fuscous mixed with black, plical obliquely before first discal, a minute black dot between first and second discal ; obscure indications of an angulated fuscous shade before termen ; a terminal series of undefined dark fuscous dots: cilia whitish sprinkled with fuscous. Hindwings whitish-fuscous.[1]

The wingspan is 19.5–27 mm for males and 23.5–31 mm for females. Pale specimens of I. balanophora can be confused with I. blepharidota however I. balanophora always has a wider an elongate dark patch along the forewing costa in comparison the narrow dash of I. blepharidota.[5] This species could also be confused with weakly marked I. mesoschista and I. haumu but it lacks the curved black line in the forewing disc of the other two species.[5]

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[6][7] I. balanophora is widespread through the North Island but is regarded as uncommon.[5] The species is likely unrecorded.[5] It has been recorded Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Taupo, Rangitikei and Wellington districts.[5] Although Hudson gave records of specimens from the South Island Robert J. B. Hoare hypothesised that these are likely I. manubriata.[5]

Adults are on wing from December to March.[5] This species occasionally comes to light.[5]

Larvae have been reared from dead Kunzea ericoides and from an unidentified rotten log on the ground.[8]