Tegeticula corruptrix
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tegeticula corruptrix is a moth of the family Prodoxidae. It is found in North America in south-western California, Arizona, New Mexico, northern Coahuila, western and southern Texas, Colorado, Alberta, the western plains of Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.[1][2]
| Tegeticula corruptrix | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Prodoxidae |
| Genus: | Tegeticula |
| Species: | T. corruptrix |
| Binomial name | |
| Tegeticula corruptrix Pellmyr, 1999 | |
The wingspan is 22.5–35 mm (0.89–1.38 in). [2]
The larvae feed on Yucca baccata, Yucca treculeana, Yucca torreyi, Yucca schidigera, Yucca glauca, Yucca baileyi, Yucca elata and Yucca verdiensis.
This species was called a "cheater" by its original describer because it lays eggs in the developing seeds and fruits of yucca plants without pollinating the flowers, unlike other yucca moths.[3]
