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Cactus-Feeding Group
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Pricklypear Borer (Melitara)
Photo#137393
Copyright © 2007 Misha Bussemey
Moth larva on cactus -
Melitara
San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, USA
March 18, 2006
Feeding on (or at least burrowing into)
Opuntia engelmannii
var.
lindheimeri
. Possibly
Olycella junctolineela
- Pyralidae, Phycitinae
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Contributed by
Lee Elliott
on 17 August, 2007 - 3:33pm
Last updated 18 August, 2007 - 12:30pm
added comment
I'm not sure which species this is, but you may actually have it correct. The genus
Olycella
is usually treated as a synonym of
Melitara
, but not always. They are also closely related to South American
Cactoblastis
, which have orange to red larvae instead of blue. I have not learned to tell the species apart yet, but there aren't many, and they are probably not difficult, once you know them. Location helps, because some regions only have one species, but I think there are at least a few in that part of Texas. I did find an interesting web page discussing the genus
here
.
…
David J. Ferguson
, 9 April, 2012 - 2:59pm
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