. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 432 LEPIDOPTERA CHAP. The family Prodoxidae consists of some Tineids, the larvae of which feed in the pods and stems of the Yuccas of south-western North America; they have the mouth of very unusual form (Fig. 208, E), and some of them, by aid of this peculiar mouth, exhibit a remarkable modifi- cation of instinct. The facts are chiefly known from the observations of Riley ^ on Pronula yuccasella, a moth living on YvMca filamentosa; this plant has been in- troduced into our gardens in this country, where it never, we believe, produces seed. The Yuccas
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 432 LEPIDOPTERA CHAP. The family Prodoxidae consists of some Tineids, the larvae of which feed in the pods and stems of the Yuccas of south-western North America; they have the mouth of very unusual form (Fig. 208, E), and some of them, by aid of this peculiar mouth, exhibit a remarkable modifi- cation of instinct. The facts are chiefly known from the observations of Riley ^ on Pronula yuccasella, a moth living on YvMca filamentosa; this plant has been in- troduced into our gardens in this country, where it never, we believe, produces seed. The Yuccas are not fitted for self-fertil- isation or for fer- tilisation by Insect agency of an ordi- nary kind. The progeny of the moth develops in the pods of the plant, and as these cannot grow until the flowers have been fertilised, the moth has the habit of fertilising the flowers at the time she lays her egg in the part that is to develop into the pod, and to be the food for her 'own progeny. The female moth first visits the stamens, and collects, by the aid of the 1 " The Yucca moth and Yucca Pollination," Ec}}. Missouri Botanical Garden, 1892, pp. Fig. 208.—Proraiba synthetica. North America. A, Larva B, C, pupa, ventral and lateral aspects ; D, female moth E, head and part of thorax of the female moth : a labial palp ; h, maxillary tentacle ; c, maxillary palp d, proboscis ; e, base of front leg. (After Riley.). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Harmer, S. F. (Sidney Frederic), Sir, 1862- ed; Shipley, A. E. (Arthur Everett), Sir, 1861-1927. ed. [London, Macmillan and Co. , Limited; New York, The Macmillan Company
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