28 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 255 



or absent; abdominal prolegs and crochets absent. Seed and stem 

 borers in Yucca and Agave. 



Pupa. — Incomplete, abdominal segments 2-7 free in both sexes; 

 abdomen either finely spined as in Prodoxus and Agavenema, or with 

 stout processes arising primarily from anterior abdominal tergites 

 (Tegeticula) . Pupation occiu-ring either in a silken cocoon within 

 host plant, or in a silk and earthern cocoon underground. 



Key to the Genera of Prodoxinae 



MALES 



la. Foretibia without an epiphysis; frenulum absent; maxillary palpus 4-seg- 



mented; labial palpus 2-segmented Parategeticula 



lb. Foretibia with an epiphysis; frenulum present; maxillary palpus 5-segmented; 



labial palpus 3-segmented. 



2a. Apical (third) segment of labial palpus as long as second (fig. 44) ; fourth 



segment of maxillary palpus as long as third; wings relatively narrow 



(fig. 49), hind margin of fore wing shghtly excavated between veins 1 and 



3 Agavenema 



2b. Apical segment of labial palpus less than half the length of second (fig. 42) ; 



fourth segment of maxillary palpus twice the length of third; wings 



broader (fig. 47), hind margin of forewing not excavated. 



3a. Genitalia with posterior margin of valve deeply lobed and usually bearing 



a few to many short, stout spines in a single cluster (figs. 102, 105-110). 



4a. Medium size moths, wing expanse approximately 15 to 33 mm. Eyes 



relatively small (fig. 40), vertical diameter less than width of frons. 



Tegeticula 

 4b. Small moths, wing expanse less than 15 mm. Eyes larger (fig. 43), 



vertical diameter exceeding width of frons Mesepiola 



3b. Genitalia with posterior margin of valve not deeply lobed, instead evenly 

 curved (fig. 92) ; spines, if present, never in a cluster, but in a scattered 

 series Prodoxus 



FEMALES 



la. Maxillary palpus with a prehensile tentacle arising from basal segment (figs. 

 40 and 41). 

 2a. Foreleg with an epiphysis; maxillary palpus 5-segmented; signum of bursa 



copula trix stellate (fig. 136) Tegeticula 



2b. Foreleg without an epiphysis; maxillary palpus 4-segmented; signum not 



stellate, instead reduced and ovoid (fig. 135) Parategeticula 



lb. Maxillary palpus without a prehensile tentacle (fig. 42). 

 2a. Maxillary palpus with fourth segment as long as third (fig. 44); apical 

 (third) segment of labial palpus as long as second; signum absent. 



Agavenema 



2b. Maxillary palpus with fourth segment twice the length of third (fig. 42) ; 



apical segment of labial palpus less than half the length of second; signum 



usually present, 



3a. Apex of seventh abdominal tergite with an uncinate process (fig. 113). 



Mesepiola 

 3b. Apex of seventh abdominal tergite simple (fig. 112) Prodoxus 



