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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths (Pyraloidea) » Pyralid Moths (Pyralidae) » Phycitinae » Phycitini » Cactus-Feeding Group » Pricklypear Borer (Melitara)
Photo#1744240
#5971.2 - Melitara Texana? - Melitara - male
Copyright © 2019 Hal Livings

#5971.2 - Melitara Texana? - Melitara - Male
20 miles southwest of Llano, Llano County
October 23, 2019
Size: FW~19mm
It seems clear that this is a Melitara species. There are no pictures of Melitara Texana on either BugGuide or MPG. The description on BOLD says the species is found in south Texas and adjacent Mexico and it's Larvae feed on Optunia lindheimeri. My citing is on the Edwards Plateau in south Central Texas, about 150 miles from the border with Mexico. We have a lot of Optunia lindhiemeri, which is our native Prickly Pear cactus. There is one spreadwing photo on BOLD which seems like a reasonable match to my specimen.

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#5971.2 - Melitara Texana? - Melitara - male #5971.2 - Melitara Texana? - Melitara - male
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Contributed by Hal Livings on 25 October, 2019 - 9:08pm
Last updated 14 January, 2020 - 8:39am

Moved
Moved from Phycitini.

Hal, I believe this is M. doddalis. Steve Nanz is reviewing M. dentata and M. doddalis. The experts have not decided which it is yet from the ones I have sent to BOLD.
… A. Hendrickson, 14 January, 2020 - 8:39am login or register to post comments

 
Interesting. M. doddalis doe
Interesting. M. doddalis doesn't appear on BugGuide at all and there's only 1 photo on MPG. I'm glad you spotted it. Please let me know what else you find out.

Thanks,

Hal
… Hal Livings, 14 January, 2020 - 5:29pm login or register to post comments

 
.
Hi Hal,

I am aware of what you are saying. My opinion comes from comparing my DNA to the ONLY M. doddalis on BOLD and they type species was from Kerrville, I think.

Only time will tell.
… A. Hendrickson, 14 January, 2020 - 5:36pm login or register to post comments

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Moved from Butterflies and Moths.
… Aaron Hunt, 24 December, 2019 - 1:21pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Tyler Hedlund, 20 November, 2019 - 12:15pm login or register to post comments

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