Keys to species of the Tegeticula yuccasella complex

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Males

1. Summed number of spines in pectinifers 37-50; forewing creamy white ................ mojavella

Summed number of spines in pectinifers 11-33; forewing white or rarely tan ....................... 2

2. Aedeagus less than or equal to 0.025 mm in minimum cross section .................................... 3

Aedeagus bigger than or equal to 0.030 mm in minimum cross section ................................ 5

3. Antennal integument brown ....................................................................................... baccatella

Antennal integument yellow, sometimes with darker apical segment ..................................... 4

4. Aedeagus 1.7 - 2.0 mm long ....................................................................................... maderae

Aedeagus 2.7 - 3.0 mm long .............................................................................. carnerosanella

5. Hindwings white or very light grey ............................................................................ rostratella

Hindwings with at least apical region darker, often solid dark brown-grey ............................ 6

6. Aedeagus bigger than or equal to 0.06 mm in minimum cross section .................................. 7

Aedeagus less than or equal to 0.05 mm in minimum cross section ..................................... 11

7. Aedeagus > 2.2 mm long ........................................................................................... corruptrix

Aedeagus < 1.8 mm long ......................................................................................................... 8

8. Summed number of spines in pectinifers 25-27; hindwing white with darker apical region ................................................................................................................................................. elatella

Summed number of spines in pectinifers 13-20; hindwing dark brown to grey ................... 9

9. Lower base of valva to pectinifer 1.15-1.30 mm, lower base of valva to apex 1.50-1.70 mm; forewing white, hindwings dark brown ........................................................................... superficiella

Lower base of valva to pectinifer 0.95-1.15 mm, lower base of valva to apex 1.35-1.50 mm; forewing sometimes with tan scales, hindwings light with grey areas ............................................. 10

10. Aedeagus diameter 0.07-0.08 mm; forewings often with tan scales ........................... intermedia

Aedeagus diameter 0.09-0.10 mm; forewings without tan scales ....................................... cassandra

11. Distinctive crescent-shaped bend on valva present below pectinifer ........................................ 12

Crescent replaced by gently curved edge below pectinifer ....................................... treculeanella

12. Crescent less than or equal to 0.05 mm wide and < 0.1 mm deep; pectinifers with more than or equal to 21 spines ............................................................................................................... altiplanella

Crescent > 0.05 mm wide, > 0.1 mm deep; pectinifers rarely with >18 spines .......... yuccasella

Females

1. Tentacles rudimentary or wholly absent ..................................................................................... 2

Tentacles fully developed ........................................................................................................... 3

2. Apophyses posteriores < 6 mm long, signa > 1.1 mm in diameter ............................ intermedia

Apophyses posteriores > 8 mm long, signa < 1.0 mm in diameter ............................. corruptrix

3. Hindwings white or very light grey, general habitus an all-white moth ..................................... 4

Hindwings grey or brown in part or their entirety ...................................................................... 5

4. Antennal integument yellow ................................................................................... carnerosanella

Antennal integument brown or dark brown .................................................................. rostratella

5. Keel on ovipositor >0.06 mm, signa > 1.2 mm in diameter ...................................................... 6

Keel on ovipositor less than or equal to 0.04 mm, signa less than or equal to 1.2 mm in diameter (usually much less) ............................................................................................................................................................. 8

6. Very prominent ovipositor keel 0.06-0.07 mm in height, signa 1.2-1.3 mm in diameter, hindwings light with darker apical region, never uniformly dark brown ................................................................................. elatella

Ovipositor keel 0.07-0.09 mm in height, signa 1.3-1.7 mm in diameter; hindwings uniformly brown or dark brown or grey with darker apical region ...................................................................................................................... 7

7. Signa 1.30-1.50 mm in diameter; hindwings uniformly brown or dark brown .......... superficiella

Signa 1.45-1.70 mm in diameter, hindwings light with darker grey apical region .......... cassandra

8. Signa 0.9-1.2 mm in diameter ....................................................................................... yuccasella

Signa less than or equal to 0.8 mm in diameter ........................................................................... 9

9. Signa less than or equal to 0.45 mm in diameter, apophyses posteriores > 7.5 mm in length; hindwings dark greyish brown ..... baccatella

Signa more than or equal to 0.55 mm in diameter, apophyses posteriores less than or equal to 7.3 mm (usually far less); hindwings dark brown or otherwise ............. 10

10. Antennal integument yellow, with apical segment often darker ...................................... maderae

Antennal integument brown or dark brown .............................................................................. 11

11. Serrated ovipositor keel 0.030-0.035 mm in height, half that of ovipositor diameter .... altiplanella

Serrated ovipositor keel so low that teeth appear to arise from ovipositor surface .................... 12

12. Apophyses posteriores < 5.9 mm in length; forewing white ..................................... treculeanella

Apophyses posteriores > 6.6 mm in length; forewing creamy white ............................ mojavella

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