Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States 75 



illary palpus (fig. 49). Fore wing with normal primitive venation, with base of 

 M and R^ preserved, veins all arising separately from the cell, or one or two 

 shortly stalked. 



Egg laid in the tissues of the ovary of a Yucca flower, larva feeding on the 

 developing seeds, but only damaging part of those in the capsule. Head not 

 depressed, small; front triangular, separated from the vertex by the adfrontals; 

 body stout, somewhat fusiform, strongly tapering behind, not flattened; with 

 small thoracic legs, the prolegs on the third to sixth abdominal segments repre- 

 sented by fleshy humps, but without crochets. Pupa with a strong frontal spine, 

 with a heavy, serrated ridge on each segment of abdomen, with very stout, sub- 

 dorsal hooks on eighth segment of abdomen pointing forward, but no cremaster. 



The moth uses its tentacles to gather and carry a ball of pollen. After laying 

 each egg the moth inserts one of the tentacles into the ovary of the flower through 

 the stigma, and fertilizes the ovules with it. 



1. T. yuccasella Rilev, (Yucca borer). White, immaculate, usually with gray hind 

 wings. 20-25 mm. (H. p. 442, f. 262-263.) 



The moth is common where Yucca is found, emerging during the flowering period 

 in May and June. Larva in Y. ftlamentosa. 



New York to Ohio, Missouri, and south. New York: Long Island. 



3. INCURVARIA Haworth 



{Lampronia Stephens; Tinea, in part) 



Similar to Prodoxus, but with smaller maxillary palpi, and, in our species, 

 black, or dark metallic blue in color. Typically with whole head rough-hairy, but 

 in group Lampronia with the face smooth and head sometimes not very rough. 

 Male antennae pectinate in some exotic species. The characters are superficially 

 much like Tinea, but the scaling of the antennae is smooth, and less regularly 

 arranged in two rows to a segment (fig. 47); if the scales are rubbed off, the 

 underlying spinules show, the antenna in either case appearing smooth and 

 velvety to a low-power lens, and commonly bristly under higher power. 



Larvae sometimes borers in stems, like Prodoxus, sometimes leaf-miners when 

 young, and later cutting out a flat, lenticular case. Head as in Tegeticula, body 

 smoothe-, prolegs with one or two transverse rows of minute hooks, setae iv and v 

 rather close together, below and behind spiracle. Pupa apparently like Prodoxus, 

 with dorso-anal spines. 



Key to the species 



1. Straight, antemedkJ fascia, no costo-apical spot 1. russatella. 



1. An irregular, pale spot on costa before apex, besides the one three-fourths 

 way out. 



2. Head dull white, antemedial fascia complete 3. aureovirens. 



2. Head pale straw yellow, antemedial fascia angulate, or not reaching costa. 



2. taylorella. 



1. I. russatella Clemens. Deep brown; head ochreous, with rough face; antennae 

 annulate, purple and gold; a pale golden fascia a fourth way out on fore wing, 

 slightly wider at inner margin, not always reaching costa; costal and dorsal spots 

 at middle and traces of a pale costal subterminal spot. Apical fringe white-tipped. 

 13 mm. 



Apparently not common. May; July. 



Both wings are normally scaled. 



Canada to Pennsylvania and District of Columbia. New York: Ithaca. 



2. I. taylorella Kearfott. Head pale straw yellow, darker above; antennae annu- 

 late, pale straw and brown; fore wing with fascia extending up from inner 





