REVISION OF MOTHS OF PRODOXINAE 99 



Considering the relationships of the plants, one may suspect the 

 genus Manfreda as a possible host. On the basis of kaiyotypic 

 information (see p. 24), as well as other characters, the Nolineae 

 do not appear closely related to either Yucca or Agave. On the other 

 hand, Manfreda is considered very close to the Agave and formerly 

 was placed in that genus. It is also interesting to note here as a 

 possible parallel that one of the five genera of Megathymidae recog- 

 nized by Freeman is restricted to Manfreda. Present distribution 

 records of M. specca, however, do not indicate Manfreda as a probable 

 host. Manfreda occurs wddely over the southeastern United States 

 and Mexico, but its range is rather limited in the southwestern United 

 States. No specimens of M. specca have been collected east of New 

 Mexico, although more intensive efforts may reveal the moth as a 

 part of our southeastern fauna. 



Mesepiola specca typically occurs in association with certain mem- 

 bers of the Agavaceae, particularly the genus Agave. It is possible 

 that Agave, or certain elements of it, is the food plant for this moth. 

 However, in nearly aU observable features, M. specca represents a 

 form intermediate between Prodoxus and Agavenema, thereby inti- 

 mating that its host may be some plant intermediate between Yucca 

 and Agave. Such a prospective plant group, of course, may not 

 exist. In regard to most characters of the head, particularly the 

 mouthparts, M. specca closely resembles the genus Prodoxus; however, 

 it is somewhat intermediate in respect to the relative development of 

 eyes. Likewise, the male genitaUa of this species is strikingly similar 

 in structure to that of Agavenema; but the female genitalia is decidedly 

 more close to Prodoxus. 



The intermediacy of this insect has suggested the generic name 

 Mesepiola, which Uterally means "intermediate moth"; the specific 

 epithet, specca, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for speckled. 



Agavenema, new genus 



Type species. — Prodoxus barberellus Busck, 1915. 



Adult. —Body slender, medium to small size, wing expanse 11- 

 25 mm. 



Head (fig. 44) : Eyes large, vertical diameter nearly doubling width 

 of frons. Tongue very reduced, less than length of maxillary palpi. 

 Mandibles minute, apex evenly rounded. Maxillary palpus 5-seg- 

 mented; thnd and fourth segments of equal length; maxillary tentacle 

 absent in both sexes. Labial palpus 3-segmented; apical segment 

 enlarged, equallmg the second in length, with a well-developed, 

 apical, sensory pit extending inwards about one half the length of 

 segment. 



