Prodoxus marginatus

Riley, 1881

Prodoxus marginatus is a small in the Prodoxidae, to California. It is the smallest in the Prodoxus, with a wingspan of 8–12 mm. The species inhabits coastal chaparral and montane dry shrubby grassland . Larvae feed on Yucca whipplei, indicating a specialized relationship with this yucca species.

Prodoxus marginatus by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.Prodoxus marginatus by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.Prodoxus marginatus by Chloe and Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Prodoxus marginatus: /prəˈdɒksəs mɑːrˈdʒɪneɪtəs/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Prodoxus by its exceptionally small size (8–12 mm wingspan versus larger in ). May be distinguished from other small in California yucca by association with Yucca whipplei plants. Specific diagnostic morphological characters beyond size are not documented in available sources.

Images

Appearance

Very small with wingspan of 8–12 mm, making it the smallest in the Prodoxus. Specific coloration and wing pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Habitat

Coastal chaparral and montane dry shrubby grassland in California.

Distribution

to California, United States. Recorded from coastal and montane regions of the state.

Diet

Larvae feed on Yucca whipplei. feeding habits are not documented.

Host Associations

  • Yucca whipplei - larval plantLarvae feed on this yucca ; specific feeding site (leaves, stems, flowers, or developing seeds) is not documented.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Prodoxus speciesLarger wingspan (all other Prodoxus exceed 12 mm in wingspan)
  • Tegericula speciesOther yucca moths in California with different size ranges and associations; Tegericula are typically larger and associated with different yucca hosts

More Details

Taxonomic authority

First described by Charles Valentine Riley in 1881.

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Sources and further reading