Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Prodoxidae Members:	Prodoxus Members:	23 NC Records

Prodoxus decipiens Riley, 1880 - Bogus Yucca Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Incurvarioidea

Family:
Prodoxidae

Subfamily:
Prodoxinae

Tribe:
[Prodoxini]

P3 Number:
21a0045

MONA Number:
200.10

Comments: The genus Prodoxus contains 22 described species in North America. This genus is a sister group to the pollinating yucca moths (Tegeticula and Parategeticula) that have mutualistic relationships with yuccas. Althoff et al. (2001) split what was previously a single, wide-ranging species (P. quinquepunctella) into two species. The eastern form is now recognized as P. decipiens, while the western form is P. quinquepunctella (sensu stricto). Prodoxus decipiens is the only Prodoxus that is found east of the Mississippi River.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Leckie and Beadle (2018)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Althoff et al., 2001.

Adult Markings: The following is based on Althoff et al.'s (2001) redescription of the species. The integument is amber to medium brown. The head and thorax have white scales. The maxillary palp is five-segmented and lacks a tentacle on the basal segment as is seen in Tegeticula. The labial palp is three-segmented with a prominent apical sensilla. The proboscis is tan-colored and relatively long, while the antenna is dark brown, with white scales on the basal half. The dorsal surface of the forewing is completely white, except for a dark frontal edge on the basal quarter of the costa. The underside is brown except for a yellowish white portion that overlaps the light to medium grayish brown hindwing. The underside of the hindwing is sparsely scaled in brownish gray, with a darker area along the fore edge where it overlaps with the forewing. The wing fringes are white. The abdomen has dorsal scaling that is white and light tan, with the last two segments with white linear semierect scales that form a brush. The underside is white to light tan in females, and light to medium tan and rarely white in males. The legs are whitish with rusty brown on the tarsi.

Our two yucca moths (P. decipiens and Tegeticula yuccasella) often co-occur locally and can be found resting inside the same yucca flowers during the day. They are very similar externally, and are best identified via genitalia or by examination of the head region. Female T. yuccasella have a conspicuous tentacle at the base of the maxillary palp that is used to pollinate flowers (Pellmyr and Krenn, 2002), while P. decipiens does not. The species also differ in size (Althoff et al., 2001, Pellmyr, 1999) as follows: T. yuccasella; wing length = 8.4-10.0 mm for males and 9.3- 11.7 mm for females, P. decipiens; 4.0–8.8 mm for males and 4.6–11.0 mm for females.

Wingspan: Males 11.0–18.0 mm; females 14.5–24.5 mm (Althoff et al., 2001).

Forewing Length: Males 4.0–8.8 mm, females 4.6–11.0 mm (Althoff et al., 2001).

Adult Structural Features: The following description of the genitalia is based on Althoff et al. (2001). Males: The valva is mostly linear, but expanded dorsally at the apex and has 3–6 short spines along the apico-ventral margin. The aedeagus is 1.21–1.96 mm long. Female genitalia: The posterior apophyses are 3.6–7.6 mm long, while the ovipositor is 0.06–0.19 mm high near the tip, with 5–11 dorsal teeth. The corpus bursae has two 0.10- to 0.22 mm signa (Althoff et al., 2001).

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Prodoxus decipiens is a specialist on yuccas, but does not actively pollinate the flowers like members of the genus Tegeticula. Adults are active at night, and mate within the yucca flowers. After mating, a female lays her eggs individually in the flower stalk using her serrated ovipositor like a saw to cut into the tissue. The larvae feed on tissue within the stalk for about a month. Prior to diapause, they excavate a tunnel to the surface of the stalk, then retreat to the back of the feeding gallery and remain in diapause for the winter. Pupation occurs in the stalk the following spring, about one week prior to emergence (Groman and Pellmyr, 2000). Larvae can remain in diapause for several years during prolonged droughts, and the adults emerge from the previous years’ scapes throughout the flowering period (Althoff et al., 2004).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Prodoxus decipiens occurs throughout much of the east-central and eastern US, from central Texas and Florida northward to Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, and Virginia (Althoff et al., 2001). Populations appear to be patchily distributed statewide, and are restricted to sites where the host plants occur.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Adults in local populations are in flight when yuccas are in bloom locally. This is typically from May through early July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Prodoxus decipiens primarily uses Yucca filamentosa in North Carolina. It also uses Y. aloifolia, which is an introduced species that occurs on dunes along the coast and the Outer Banks (Groman and Pellmyr, 2000). Yuccas are found in relatively dry, open habitats such as open woods, the edges of granitic flatrocks, maritime forests, and dune systems along beaches. Yucca filamentosa has also been widely planted as an ornamental, and has escaped in most areas of the state.

Larval Host Plants: The known hosts include Spanish Dagger (Y. aloifolia), Soapweed Yucca (Y. glauca), Buckley Yucca (Y. constricta), Curlyleaf Yucca (Y. filamentosa) and Gulf Coast Yucca (Y. louisianensis; Althoff et al., 2012; Darwell et al., 2014). Populations in North Carolina are known to use Y. filamentosa and Y. aloifolia. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are on the wing for an hour or two after dark as they fly between flowers. They are attracted to lights, but are also easily collected by checking inside flowers during the day. The larvae can be located by splitting open Yucca stalks, including older, dried stalks from the previous year.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Glades and Barrens

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S3S4

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Populations are entirely dependent on yucca populations and show evidence of local and regional genetic differentiation. Darwell et al. (2014) found that moth populations using Y. filamentosa and Y. aloifolia on the Outer Banks are genetically different from those on the mainland, as well from each other. The moth population at Nags Head clusters with the mainland populations, but those farther along the Outer Banks chain are distinctive from mainland populations. Groman and Pellmyr (2000) also found significant differences in female ovipositor morphology and moth emergence phenology between populations on the Outer Banks that use the two Yucca species. As such, effort should be expended to protect local yucca populations on the Outer Banks that may harbor genetically distinctive populations of P. decipiens.

Photo Gallery for Prodoxus decipiens - Bogus Yucca Moth

Photos: 16

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22 Wilson Co. Comment: Female (dissected).		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22 Wilson Co. Comment: Female (dissected).
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2022-05-27 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-26 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-26 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-09 Madison Co. Comment: A view of about 40 moths that were concentrated on a flower of Yucca filamentosa.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-06 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-06 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-06-03 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-05-25 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2019-05-21 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2015-05-30 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2015-05-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-06-22 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-05-17 Warren Co. Comment: