Under Construction

Tegeticula synthetica Riley

Olle Pellmyr
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Containing group: Tegeticula

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 17-21 mm. Forewings black, with occasional lighter scales scattered on the wing, and occasional clustering to form a diffuse discal spot. Hindwings of the same color, but very lightly scaled so that wings can be hyaline.

Comparison with Similar Species

The species is very distinctive, but could conceivably be mistaken for the larger T. maculata extranea on Yucca whipplei. The abdomen is dorsally flattened in synthetica, and the female has a triangular seventh tergite. Examination of the genitalia provide definitive identification for both sexes.

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

Feeds exclusively on Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua Tree (Agavaceae). The female oviposits into flowers, and the larva feeds on developing seeds. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil.

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Female resting during daytime inside a (closed) host flower.

Geographic Distribution

Congruent with the range of its host. In the northern two thirds of the Mojave desert, in southern Nevada, southeastern California, and extreme southwestern Utah to northwestern Arizona.

Habitat

In desert with Yucca brevifolia.

Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window

Characteristic habitat; San Bernardino Co., California.

Type

Lectotype in USNM.

References

Davis, D.R. 1967. A revision of the moths of the subfamily Prodoxinae (Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae). U.S. Nat. Hist. Mus., Bull. 255:1-170.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Tegeticula synthetica
Location San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex Female
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 synthetica Riley. 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 synthetica Riley. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_synthetica/12452/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

edit this page
close box

This page is a Tree of Life Leaf Page.

Each ToL leaf page provides a synopsis of the characteristics of a group of organisms representing a leaf at the tip of the Tree of Life. The major distinction between a leaf and a branch of the Tree of Life is that a leaf cannot generally be further subdivided into subgroups representing distinct genetic lineages.

For a more detailed explanation of the different ToL page types, have a look at the Structure of the Tree of Life page.

close box

Tegeticula synthetica

Page Content

articles & notes

collections

people

Explore Other Groups

random page

  go to the Tree of Life home page
top