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Tegeticula mojavella Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Tegeticula

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 19-24.5 mm. Forewing cream colored, hindwing light brownish gray and a distinctly darker outer section. Male genitalia with aedeagus 1.5-1.8 mm long, 0.030-0.035 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 6.7-7.0 mm long, corpus bursae with signa 0.55-0.70 mm in diameter.

Comparison with Similar Species

More cream colored than other species in the complex, yet similar, but readily distinguished from other members of the complex based on genitalic characters. A diagnostic key is provided.

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

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

Geographic Distribution

Most of the Mojave desert, from southern Nevada and desert portions in California south to the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Habitat

Habitat includes bajadas and lower slopes of open desert. Altitudinal range 300-1450 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 mojavella
Location San Bernardino Co, California, 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 mojavella 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 mojavella Pellmyr. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_mojavella/12460/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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