Tegeticula yuccasella
| Tegeticula yuccasella | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tegeticula yuccasella | ||||||||||||
| ( Riley , 1872) |
Tegeticula yuccasella is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of prodoxidae (Prodoxidae).
features
The male moths reach a wingspan of 18 to 24 millimeters, the females 19 to 27 millimeters. The top of the forewings is white while the underside is mostly dark brown. The hind wings are gray-brown in color and darkest at the apex .
distribution
Tegeticula yuccasella is common in North America. The distribution area extends from the southern border of Texas to southern Canada , as well as from the east coast to the west coast. The cultivation of Yucca filamentosa has increased its range over the past 150 years.
Way of life
The female collects the pollen of the yucca flowers with the greatly extended part of the lip probe. She lays it in the scars in which she previously laid her eggs. The yucca depends on the yuccamot as a pollinator. The caterpillars eat about half the seeds of a yucca plant. The following types of yucca belong to the caterpillar forage plants:
- Yucca filamentosa
- Yucca smalliana
- Yucca flaccida
- Yucca glauca
- Yucca arkansana
- Yucca constricta
- Yucca rupicola
- Yucca pallida
- Yucca reverchonii
- Yucca aloifolia
Pupation takes place in the ground in a cocoon.
swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Olle Pellmyr: Tegeticula yuccasella (Riley). Retrieved January 14, 2008 .