Melitara doddalis
| Melitara doddalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Genus: | Melitara |
| Species: | M. doddalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Melitara doddalis Dyar, 1925[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Melitara doddalis is a species of snout moth in the genus Melitara. It was described by Dyar in 1925, and is found in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, south-western Texas and northern Mexico.
Adults are on wing from September to early October.
The larvae feed on Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia macrorhiza var. macrorhiza and Opuntia phaeacantha var. phaeacantha. They tunnel downward into the basal segments of the host plant. Pupation occurs on the ground during August and September.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was previously considered a synonym of Melitara dentata.