Parategeticula pollenifera

Parategeticula pollenifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Prodoxidae
Genus:	Parategeticula
Species:	P. pollenifera
Binomial name
Parategeticula pollenifera Davis, 1967

Parategeticula pollenifera is a moth of the Prodoxidae family. It is found in pine-oak forests in south-western Arizona, south-western New Mexico and Veracruz (in Mexico).

The wingspan is 24–31 mm. Adults have relatively broad forewings with off-white and occasional dark scales. Females possess similar maxillary tentacles which are used to pick up pollen and to actively pollinate host flowers.^[1]

The larvae feed on Yucca schottii and Yucca elephantipes. Young larvae bore into the young fruit of their host plant and create a gall that replaces several seeds. When fully grown, they burrow into the soil, where pupation takes place. The larval diapause can last for at least two years.

References

1. TOLweb