Tegeticula treculeanella
Olle Pellmyr
Adult Characteristics
Wing expanse 19.5-29.5 mm. Forewing white, hindwing brownish gray. Male genitalia with aedeagus 1.65-1.8 mm long, 0.04 mm in cross section; female genitalia with posterior apophyses 5.7-5.8 mm long, large corpus bursae with signa 0.65-0.80 mm in diameter.
Comparison with Similar Species
Similar in forewing coloration to other members of the yuccasella complex, 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. treculeana, including Y. torreyi 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
The known range includes parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Coahuila.
Habitat
Characteristic habitat is desert flats and low slopes in the Chihuahuan desert, and open shrubland and grassland in coastal regions. Altitudinal range 0 - 1350 m.
Shrubby deserts in Brewster Co., Texas, and Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, represent typical habitats of host yuccas.
References
Pellmyr, O. 1999. Systematic revision of the Tegeticula yuccasella complex (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae) north of Mexico. Systematic Entomology 24:243-271.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Tegeticula treculeanella |
|---|---|
| Location | Cameron Co, Texas, USA |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Sex | male (left), female (right) |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
|
| Copyright |
© 1996
|
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University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
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Tegeticula treculeanella .
Authored by
Olle Pellmyr.
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Citing this page:
Pellmyr, Olle. 1996. Tegeticula treculeanella . Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Tegeticula_treculeanella/12455/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
