''Ichneutica schistella'' is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the family Noctuidae. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Taxonomy

This species was first described by Robert Hoare in 2019. The holotype specimen, held at the

Otago Museum Tūhura Otago Museum is located in the city centre of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is adjacent to the University of Otago campus in Dunedin North, 1,500 metres northeast of the city centre. It is one of the city's leading attractions and has one of t ...

, is male and was collected in December 1994 by Brian H. Patrick at the

Rock and Pillar Range The Rock and Pillar Range of high hills is located in the Maniototo, an area of inland Otago, New Zealand. They are surrounded by the Taieri River, which has its source in the range, flowing out across the scroll plain at Paerau, before almost d ...

Description

This species is dark grey and white in colouration. This species can be distinguished from '' I. cana'' as it is smaller in size. ''I. schistella'' also have distinctive black coloured markings on the edge of its forewings. The male of this species has a wingspan of between 33 and 38mm. The female of this species is unknown.

Geographic range

This species has only been collected from its type locality the Rock and Pillar Range in Central Otago.

Life history

The life history of this species is unknown.

Behaviour

Adult males of this species are on the wing in December.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q104079736 Moths described in 2019 Moths of New Zealand Noctuinae Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Robert Hoare Endemic moths of New Zealand