REVISION OF MOTHS OF PRODOXINAE 



87 



Recorded host. — Yucca schottii Engelmann. Lai'va probably 

 bores in flower stalk of host. 



Distribution (map 11).— At present this species is known from 

 various mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona at an elevation of 

 about 4400 to 5600 feet. Following the distribution of its host, P. 

 ochrocarus undoubtedly occiu-s also in the adjacent area of New 

 Mexico (Hidalgo Co.). 



Discussion. — Except for the identity of the host plant, little infor- 

 mation is known concerning the biology of P. ochrocarus. The species 

 may be found readily dming the day or night resting in the flowers 

 of Yucca schottii. Frequently the moths leave the flowers to hide or 

 climb about the flower stems. This prevalent habit may suggest that 

 oviposition occm-s in the stem and that the larvae are stem borers. 

 If distm-bed in the flowers diu-ing the day, the moths are veryreluctant 

 (in contrast to P. y-inversus) to fly away or drop to the leaves; nor- 

 mally they attempt to hide beneath the flowers along the flower stalk. 

 Rarely are the moths attracted to ultraviolet lights, even if the lights 

 are operated within the immediate vicinity of the insects. 



The close affinities that probably exist between P. ochrocarus and 

 P. intricatus are strongly suggested by the systematic relationships of 

 their respective hosts as weU as by the striking similarities in general 

 appearance of the two moths. More than liliely, P. intricatus repre- 

 sents the more recent derivation of the two. Prodoxus ochrocarus 



Map U.— Distribution of Prodoxus ochrocarus (black triangles) and Prodoxus intricatus 



(black circles). 



