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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Moths » Sesioidea » Clearwing Moths (Sesiidae) » Sesiinae » Melittiini » Melittia » Squash Vine Borer - Hodges#2536 (Melittia cucurbitae)
Photo#202056
bug on my zucchini plant - Melittia cucurbitae
Copyright © 2008 wrigley12

bug on my zucchini plant - Melittia cucurbitae
Huntley, mchenry County, Illinois, USA
July 13, 2008
Size: 3/4 inch
I cannot tell if this is an odd looking box elder bug or not. It is on my zucchini plant where it likes to mate. My plant is getting eaten up, but I cannot tell if this bug is doing it or not. Whenever I see it on there, it is resting or mating. Please help so I can know whether or not to kill them. If they are not harming anything, I will leave them alone. Thanks so much!
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Contributed by wrigley12 on 15 July, 2008 - 12:11pm
Last updated 19 July, 2008 - 6:34pm

Moved
Moved from Clearwing Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 19 July, 2008 - 6:34pm login or register to post comments

Yes -Squash Vine Borer -Melittia cucurbitae
The adult moth does not chew the leaves so that is another critter! The larvae of this moth infest the stems of your squash and usually kill the plant by eating all the vascular material.The eggs are small brown and layed around the stem base. Upon hatching they bore into the stem. Your squash will start wilting.
Bug Guide
Also some more information can be found at Ohio Online
… Maury J. Heiman, 15 July, 2008 - 2:05pm login or register to post comments

 
confirmed
Your information and identification is correct.
… Thomas D. Eichlin, 17 July, 2008 - 9:07am login or register to post comments

Not an ID
but looks a bit like this moth:
Melittia cucurbitae (Squash Vine Borer - Hodges#2536)



If the ID is confirmed by an expert, please see the info page for that species to look for information on host plants (larva are stem borers of squash-type plants, I think)...
… Ken Schneider, 15 July, 2008 - 1:10pm login or register to post comments

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