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
  • Zophodia doddalis

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.

References


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