Biology:Parategeticula ecdysiastica

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Short description: Species of moth

Parategeticula ecdysiastica
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Prodoxidae
Genus: Parategeticula
Species:
P. ecdysiastica
Binomial name
Parategeticula ecdysiastica
Pellmyr & Balcázar-Lara, 2008

Parategeticula ecdysiastica is a moth of the family Prodoxidae. It is found in the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains of the Cape region of Baja California, Mexico

The wingspan is about 25 mm. The forewings are tannish white, with a very light scattering of linear white scales. The hindwings are clear-translucent, with very scattered white linear scales above and below.[1] Adults are possibly on wing in July.

The larvae feed on Yucca capensis. Young larvae feed inside gall-like tissue modified from three seeds. Full-grown larvae prepare exit paths to the fruit surface, and have been observed consuming five developed seeds adjacent to the site of the consumed, modified tissue.

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from Greek ecdysiast (meaning one who sheds layers) and refers to the near complete loss of all wing scales during adult emergence.

References

  1. Olle Pellmyr & Manuel Balcázar-Lara, 2008, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152 (2): 297-314 [1]

Wikidata ☰ Q7136094 entry