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Tegeticula elatella Pellmyr

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Tegeticula

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 21-28 mm. Forewing white; hindwing white with light to medium grey near apex, occasionally with rusty tinge. Male genitalia with aedeagus 1.5-1.7 mm long, 0.08-0.10 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 4.4-5.1 mm long, large corpus bursae with signa 1.25-1.30 mm in diameter.

Comparison with Similar Species

Similar especially to the allopatric sister species superficiella, but generally lighter and with broader wings. 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 elata (Y. verdiensis). Eggs are laid just below the ovary surface. The larva feeds on developing seeds. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil.

Geographic Distribution

Western Texas from the Big Bend region, extending across southern New Mexico to southeastern Arizona and the Verde Valley of central Arizona.

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.

Habitat

Typical habitat includes grassland and shrub desert. Altitudinal range 700-1800 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 elatella
Location Brewster Co, Texas
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 elatella 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 elatella Pellmyr. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_elatella/12469/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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