Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Taygete sphecophila
DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA AND PUPA: Larva. (Figs 7-17): Length 5.0-8.2 mm (n = 72), < 5.0 mm (n = 94). Body pale gray, textured with microconvolutions; head capsule amber; prothoracic shield amber, gradually darkening posteriorly; pinacula pale brown; anal plate pale amber; setae with widened, circular, and slightly raised
The presence in males of this species of a corematal organ at the base of the abdomen (Fig. 4) and a trifurcated uncus (Fig. 3a) are excellent diagnostic features with regards to the rest of the Galapagos fauna. Males of Galagete Landry are the only other Galapagos moths to share a corematal organ, but their uncus is made of a single projection. In females the shape of segment VIII (Fig. 5), especially dorsally, will separate T. sphecophila from any other species in the Galapagos and probably the rest of its range. On the archipelago, some species of Galagete Landry (2002) or Gelechiidae may appear superficially similar, especially because they share a similarly shaped hindwing, a similar wingspan, upturned labial palpi, and scales on the proboscis basally, but the forewing markings of T. sphecophila (Fig. 1) are unique among these groups (Landry et., 2006).
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Superfamily
Gelechioidea
Family
Autostichidae
Genus
Taygete
Species
sphecophila
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Introduced - established
Year of first record: 1989
Mode of introduction: Accidental
Introduction Pathway: Contaminant
Subpathway: Contaminant on animals
Introduced status: Naturalized
Invasive status: No data
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Floreana, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz (Landry et al., 2006; Roque, 2006).
- Landry, B. Adamski, D., Schmitz, P., Parent, C.E. & Roque-Albelo, L. (2006) Taygete sphecophila (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera; Autostichidae): redescription of the adult, descripton of the larva and pupa and impact in Polistes wasps (Hymenoptera; Vespidae) nests in the Galapagos Islands. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 113(2): 307-323.
- Roque-Albelo, L. (2006) Diversity and ecology of the Lepidoptera in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador Cardiff University (United Kingdom)
- Roque-Albelo, L. Landry, B. (2016) CDF Checklist of Galapagos Butterflies and Moths Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador, 32 pp.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Taygete sphecophila", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7360. Accessed 31 October 2026.