98 



U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 55 



Carlsbad, 50 miles south of, along highway 180, near Guadalupe 

 Canyon, 2 cf d^, 9, June 26, 1964, J.R. Eyer collector (JRE) ; 5 d'd', 

 June 26, 1964, J.R. Eyer collector (USNM). Socorro Co.: Gran 

 Quivira National Monument, 6600 feet, 9, July 1-3, 1964, D.R. Davis 

 collector (USNM). Described from a total of 17 males and 88 

 females. 



Recorded host. — None. Larva possibly may be a borer in 

 Nolina or Agave. 



Distribution (map 16). — This species ranges rather widely 

 through the southwestern United States from New Mexico west to 

 southern California. More than likely, it also occurs in certain areas 

 of northern Mexico. 



Map 16. — Distribution of Mesepiola specca. 



Discussion. — ^An interesting structure exists in the females of 

 M. specca that is apparently unique for the family. This is a peculiar, 

 strongly sclerotized, hooklike process projecting from the apex of 

 the seventh abdominal tergite (fig. 113). It is unHkely that such a 

 process has developed without serving some function; possibly, some 

 use may be made of it during oviposition. For example one obvious 

 advantage for which it might be used would be to engage some part 

 of the host plant so as to anchor the moth better during insertion of 

 the ovipositor. 



The Hfe history of Mesepiola specca is not known, although there 

 is reason to suspect that the larva may be a borer in the flower stalks 

 of Nolina. This suspicion is based primarily upon a single female 

 specimen collected by Charles Dammers near El Toro, Cahf., in 

 the flowers of Nolina parryi. Such records of the adults can be 

 misleading at times, although often they are of some significance for 

 the Prodoxinae. During the summer of 1964, the author searched 

 for prodoxine larvae in the flower stalks of Nolina microcarpa S. 

 Watson over parts of southeastern Arizona, as well as in the stalks 

 of a related plant, Dasylirion wheeleri S. Watson. No evidence of 

 larvae were found, although one female moth of M. specca was col- 

 lected during the day on the flowers of Dasylirion wheeleri. 



