REVISION OF MOTHS OF PRODOXINAE 89 



ments and probably ranges further south into Guatemala, where its 

 host, Yucca elephantipes, is extensively cultivated. 



Discussion. — In the origmal description of this species, Riley 

 mentions that his series consisted of 20 males and 5 females. The 

 original series, now deposited in the collections of the U.S. National 

 Museum, has been re-examined and foimd instead to consist of a 

 total of 31 specimens (30 males and 1 female). The discrepancy in 

 the total number may be explained by assuming that the count given 

 by Riley was only an estimated number; an error in sexing the speci- 

 mens easily could have been made, due to the unspread condition of 

 a majority of the moths and if proper magnification had not been used 

 by Riley in his original examination. I have selected one specimen 

 from the syntypic series for the lectotjrpe and have designated the 

 remainder as paralectotypes. 



As now believed, the continued survival of a species of Prodoxus in 

 a given area probably is dependent upon the sympatric existence of 

 some moth capable of pollinating the yucca. The reason for this 

 being that unless some fruits are allowed to develop, the flower stalk 

 will wither and die before any stalk-boring Prodoxus can complete its 

 larval cycle. Consequently, the distribution of P. intricatus also 

 indicates a comparable range for a potential pollinator. The author 

 has collected both Prodoxus intricatus and Parategeticula pollenifera 

 from the same site near Poza Rica, Veracruz; thus establishing at 

 least some overlap in their ranges. It is possible that the association 

 of these two species extends much further south. 



Material examined, — 42 cf cf and 8 9 9. 



MEXICO: Oaxaca— Oaxaca, 8 cf c?, 9 (USNM). Veracruz— Fortin, 4 

 cf cf , 4 ? 9 , June 27-July 24 (USNM). Jalapa, cf, lectotype, June 5, 29 cf cf , 

 9, paralectotypes, June 5 (USNM). Poza Rica, 7 miles SW of, 9, July 21 

 (USNM). Specific locality unknown: 9 (USNM). 



Prodoxus sordidus Riley 



Figures 71, 97, 112, 123, 142, 143; Map 12 



Prodoxus sordidus Riley, 1892a, pp. 153flf.; 1892c, p. 372; 1892e, p. 319.— Dyar, 

 1902 [1903], p. 723, no. 6571; 1903b, p. 103.— Kearfott, 1903, no. 7109.— 

 Barnes and McDunnough, 1917, p. 197, no. 8467.— McDunnough, 1939, no. 

 9830.— Busck, 1947, p. 184. 

 Adult (fig. 71).— Wing ex-panse: male, 8-11 mm; female, 12-14 mm. 

 Head: White. Labial palpus white to cream colored. 

 Thorax: Whitish. Upper surface of primaries, including fringe, 

 white to cream in color; ventral sm-face pale fuscous. Upper and 

 lower surfaces of secondaries mostly white except for fuscous shading 

 along costal margin; fully scaled, scales broad, nearly equal in width 

 to scales of forewing; fringe white. 



221-519 — 67 7 



