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Tegeticula rostratella Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Tegeticula

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 18.5-26 mm. Forewing white, hindwing white or occasionally light grey. Male genitalia with aedeagus 2.2-3.0 mm long, 0.03-0.04 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 5.2-6.4 mm long, small corpus bursae with signa 0.60-0.75 mm in diameter.

Comparison with Similar Species

The typically all-white coloration is only shared by the sympatric carnerosanella, but the adult appears somewhat later (as a result of different flowering times of hosts). 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 Y. rostrata and the questionably distinct Y. rigida (Pellmyr 1999). Females oviposit into flowers . Eggs are laid inside the ovary between the wall and the ovules. The larva feeds on developing seeds. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil.

Geographic Distribution

The Big Bend region of the United States, extending in Mexico to the southern edge of the Mapimi region in southern Coahuila.

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Habitat

Typical habitat is scrub desert, often on relatively steep slopes. Altitudinal range 690-950 m.

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 rostratella
Location Brewster Co, Texas, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex male (left), female (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 rostratella 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 rostratella Pellmyr. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_rostratella/12466/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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