Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Prodoxus weethumpi

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Insecta

Family
  
Prodoxidae

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Order
  
Lepidoptera

Genus
  
Prodoxus

Prodoxus weethumpi is a moth of the Prodoxidae family. It is found in the United States in the south-western and north-eastern edges of the Mojave Desert in southern California and Nevada, north-western Arizona and south-western Utah.

The wingspan is 8.75-10.6 mm for males and 9.2-13.6 mm for females. The forewings are uniform solid light tan. The hindwings are gray with a brown tinge along the front edge. Adults are on wing from March to early May.

The larvae feed on Yucca brevifolia. They feed inside a superficial gallery in the thickening exocarp. This gallery also serves as the diapause and pupation site. Diapause can last at least two years, and likely much longer, before pupation and emergence.

Etymology

The species name is derived from wee thump of the Paiute language, meaning "ancient ones", alluding to the longevity of Yucca brevifolia.

References

Prodoxus weethumpi Wikipedia