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Prodoxus phylloryctus Wagner & Powell

Olle Pellmyr
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Containing group: Prodoxus

Adult Characteristics

Wing expanse 9-13 mm. Dorsum dark brown. Forewing mostly dark brown with numerous white bands and patches, creating a checkerspot appearance. Hindwings light to medium gray.

Comparison with Similar Species

Very similar to Prodoxus coloradensis, with which it coexists. Adults lack white scales on the dorsum (present in coloradensis), forewing scales are parallel-sided (as opposed to ovate), and the dorsoventral vincular lobes in the male genitalia tend to be rounded (rather than quadrate).

Host, Oviposition, and Larval Feeding Habits

Known only from Yucca baccata (Agavaceae). This is the only known leaf-feeding Prodoxus species. Oviposition has not been observed, but scars have only been found on the leaf underside. Larvae feed singly or, more commonly, communally in mines parallel with the leaf surface. Communal mines appear as blotches on the leaf surface. Pupation occurs in a cocoon insided the larval gallery, and adults emerge through either leaf surface. The adults emerged about two weeks after coexisting P. coloradensis in a lab culture (Wagner & Powell 1988).

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Fungus-infected leaf surface with many exitholes and opercula of P. phylloryctus; picture on right shows protruding pupal exuviae; San Juan Co., Colorado, USA.

Geographic Distribution

So far only known from the type locality in Dove Creek, southwestern Colorado, USA.

Habitat

In open oak-pine forest with Yucca baccata.

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Characteristic habitat with Y. baccata; San Juan Co., Colorado, USA.

Type

Holotype in UCB.

References

Wagner, D.L. & J.A. Powell. 1988. A new Prodoxus from Yucca baccata: first report of a leaf-mining prodoxine (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 81:547-553.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Prodoxus phylloryctus
Location San Juan Co., Colorado, USA
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Sex male (left) and female (right)
Type From type series
Copyright © 1996 David L. Wagner
About This Page


University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA

Page: Tree of Life Prodoxus phylloryctus Wagner & Powell. 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. Prodoxus phylloryctus Wagner & Powell. Version 01 January 1996 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Prodoxus_phylloryctus/12438/1996.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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