Izatha attactella

Description

Izatha attactella is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known from both the North and South Island as far south as mid-Canterbury. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1864. The wingspan 24.5–38 mm for males and 22–36 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to December. Larvae have been reported feeding under the bark of dead Elaeocarpus dentatus, Aristotelia serrata, Nothofagus, Myoporum laetum and Rhopalostylis sapida, feeding on the soft inner surface of the bark. It has also been recorded from dead wood of Castanea, Litsea calicaris, Olearia paniculata, Pinus patula, Pinus radiata and Sophora species. Pupation takes place under the bark in an oval cocoon of silk into which fragments of chewed wood are densely incorporated.