Tegeticula superficiella
Olle Pellmyr
Adult Characteristics
Wing expanse 20.5-30 mm. Forewing white; hindwing dark brown, darker by apex. Male genitalia with aedeagus 1.45-1.60 mm long, 0.08 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 3.75-4.40 mm long, large corpus bursae with signa 1.30-1.45 mm in diameter.
Comparison with Similar Species
Similar especially to the allopatric sister species elatella, but generally darker. Genitalia are highly characteristic for identification; a diagnostic key is provided.
Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits
The species is known from the capsular-fruited yucca Yucca elata var. utahensis, Y. baileyi, and Y. angustissima var. kanabensis. Females oviposit into flowers . Eggs are laid just below the ovary surface. The larva feeds on developing seeds. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil.
Geographic Distribution
The species is currently known only from extreme southwestern Utah and from northern Arizona.
References
Pellmyr, O. 1999. Systematic revision of the Tegeticula yuccasella complex (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) north of Mexico. Systematic Entomology 24:243-271.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Tegeticula superficiella |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington Co, Utah |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Sex | male (left), female (right) |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
© 1996
|
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University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
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Tegeticula superficiella .
Authored by
Olle Pellmyr.
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Citing this page:
Pellmyr, Olle. 1996. Tegeticula superficiella . Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_superficiella/12468/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
