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Tegeticula baccatella Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Tegeticula

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 19.5-28 mm. Forewing white or occasionally more or less tan colored (at higher elevation), hindwing dark brownish grey. Male genitalia with aedeagus 2.6-3.0 mm long, 0.02 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 7.4-8.3 mm long, small corpus bursae with signa 0.36-0.44 mm in diameter.

Comparison with Similar Species

Similar to many species in the yuccasella complex, but distinguished by narrow, tapering wings and dark hidwings. Genitalia are highly characteristic for identification; a diagnostic key is provided. Tan forewing coloration is some specimens is shared with the partly sympatric altiplanella and with yuccasella.

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

The species is known from the fleshy-fruited yucca Y. baccata Yucca baccata (Y. thornberi, Y. confinis) (Pellmyr 1999). Females oviposit into flowers . Eggs are laid inside the ovary, between the wall and the ovules, often in the upper portion.The larva feeds on developing seeds. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil.

Geographic Distribution

All of Arizona and New Mexico, into adjacent regions of California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado, and western Texas to Presidio County.

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 .

Habitat

Typical habitat includes shrub desert, rocky hillsides, and open pine forest with outcrops. Altitudinal range 1300-2200 m.

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Shrubby desert in Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, is a typical habitat of host yucca.

Type

Holotype in USNM.

References

Pellmyr, O. 1999. Systematic revision of the Tegeticula yuccasella complex (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) north of Mexico. Systematic Entomology 24:243-271.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Tegeticula baccatella
Location Dona Ana Co, New Mexico, USA and San Juan Co, Utah, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex males (left), females (right)
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 1996
About This Page


University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA

Page: Tree of Life Tegeticula baccatella Pellmyr. Authored by Olle Pellmyr. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Pellmyr, Olle. 1996. Tegeticula baccatella Pellmyr. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_baccatella/12465/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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