REVISION OF MOTHS OF PRODOXINAE 71 



1892a) to induce hard, gall-lilie swellings in the fruit pods in which they 

 feed. 



Natural enemies.— Foiu- species of Hymenoptera, representing 

 three families, are Imown to parasitize members of this genus. 

 Eudecatoma flammineiventris (Eurytomidae) has been reared from two 

 closely related moths of the "quinquepunctellus" group, Prodoxus 

 y-inversus and P. quinquepundellus. The latter is also parasitized by 

 an ichneumonid, Calliephialtes notandus, and a braconid, Ileterospilus 

 prodoxi. Similarly, Heterospilus koebelei is reported to attack two 

 species of the "marginatus" group, P. marginatus and P. aenescens. 

 Prodoxus sordidus, although presently not known to be parasitized, 

 eventually may be found to harbor a distinct species of wasp. 



In addition to parasitism, at least one species of Prodoxus (see 

 p. 82) is known to be preyed upon by a thomisid spider, Misumenops 

 coloradensis, and a clerid beetle, Enoclerus spinolae. 



Evolution 



The relationships of the various species of Prodoxus are sum- 

 marized in diagram 2. This arrangement is based primarily upon 

 host information and morphological characteristics of the male and 

 female genitalia. 



An examination of the male genitalia has revealed two groups 

 within the genus Prodoxus. One division (A) may be referred to as 

 the "quinquepunctellus" group and is characterized by species with 

 a bilobed or clef ted tegiunen (fig. 92) and marginal spines on the 

 valves; in contrast, members of the "marginatus" group (A') exhibit 

 a tegumen with a simple or entire apex (fig. 98) and valves without 

 spines. More significantly, these morphological characters are cor- 

 related with important biological differences which, together, indicate 

 an early division (A,AO within the genus. The phylogenetic sequence 

 of species within each group is somewhat arbitrary, but there seems 

 to be a tendency toward an increase in the amount of scale pigmen- 

 tation, as well as a gradual reduction or loss of the female signum. 

 Because these tendencies are believed, in part, to represent speciali- 

 zations, Prodoxus marginatus and P. quinquepundellus have been con- 

 sidered the most generalized components of theu* respective groups. 

 Future findings may modify this tentative arrangement considerably. 



Present biological information coincides to a remarkable degree with 

 that of morphology in the arrangement of species as presented in 

 diagram 2. If Prodoxus originally evolved from a seed boring pro- 

 doxine, as is believed, then such a transition probably was marked by 

 certain intermediate steps. Gradually the larva ceased to feed ex- 

 clusively on seeds, and commenced to burrow through the more fleshy, 

 and probably less nourishmg, part of the fruit. Eventually some 



