Yosemitia Ragonot

Thomas J. Simonsen and Richard L. Brown

Last updated: Dec.15, 2009

Taxonomic Synonymy
Yosemitia Ragonot, 1901. Mem. sur. les. Lep. 8: 17
Type species: Spermatophtora graciella Hulst, 1887. By monotypy.

Diagnostic Characters
Adult
Yosemitia can be distinguished by the following character combination: 1) maxillary with very large fan of scales held against the head, 2) forewing M2 and M3 sharing a common stem, but separate for more than half their length 3) hind wing M2+3 and CuA1 not fused basally (Heinrich 1939; 1956; Neunzig 1997; Simonsen 2008).

Larva
According to Heinrich (1939; 1956) and Mann (1969), the larvae are dark bluish without bands or spots.

Larval Hosts
Larvae feed in Echinocerus, Selerocactus, Coryphanta, Hamatocactus, and Mamilaria (Heinrich 1939; 1956; Mann 1969, Neunzig 1997).

Life History
Eggs are laid singly, and the larvae are gregarious internal feeders (Mann 1969).

Distribution
Yosemitia is known from southwestern USA and adjacent Mexico (Heinrich 1939; 1956; Mann 1969, Neunzig 1997).

Species
     graciella
     longipenella
     fieldiella
     didactica