Squash vine borer

Melittia cucurbitae

Melittia cucurbitae is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of Clearwing ( Sesiidae ). The species is economically important pest on pumpkins.

Features

The moths reach a wingspan from 25 to 37 millimeters, the males are slightly smaller than females. Also, they have a stronger coloration and can be distinguished by their more feathered sensor of the females. The forewings have a metallischgrüne staining, the hind wings have such a coloring only on the wing veins, otherwise they are transparent. The body of the animals is just as shiny metallic green, the abdomen has an additional more or less pronounced orange color. On the back is a chain of black spots. The moths have the middle and especially at the rear pair of legs striking black and orange fringe.

The caterpillars are about 25 mm long and look with her cream-colored, wrinkled body and brown head capsule grubs quite similar.

Occurrence

Melittia cucurbitae occurs in many parts of temperate North America, but is absent on the Pacific coast.

Way of life

The flight of the butterfly is slow and zigzags. Per year normally flies a generation, occasionally also developed a partial second. In the warm south of the United States, a second generation forms.

Food of the caterpillars

The caterpillars feed on various species and cultivars of pumpkins (Cucurbita ).

Development

The females lay their oval, flattened eggs which have a pale red color and a diameter of about one millimeter, one at the stems of food plants from. Most often they are found at the base of the main stem, rarely also on petioles or on the underside of leaves. After 9-14 days the caterpillars hatch, which immediately burrow into the stems. They live in the interior of the stem and develop within four to six weeks. Then leave the plant and embark on the search for a suitable place for winter or pupation. Overwintering takes place as a full-grown caterpillar place within a covered with earth, 19 -millimeter-long cocoon, which is applied two to 15 inches deep in the soil. Pupation takes place only in the spring, the doll is about 16 mm long and has a brown color. The diurnal imagines emerge in June and fly for about a month. In the evening, you can find them resting in vegetation.

Harmful effect

As the caterpillars feed at the base of the stem, the infested plants are weakened due to the impaired thereby supply of water and nutrients and wither. Sometimes a plant can live in over 100 tracked, what with such a strong attack, the death of the plant result.