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Tegeticula superficiella Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Tegeticula

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.

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Habitat

Typical habitat includes shrub desert and open pine forest . Altitudinal range 1200-1800 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 superficiella
Location Washington Co, Utah
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 superficiella 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 superficiella Pellmyr. 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/

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