Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207
Diaphania indica
This record describes Diaphania indica (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Wings are white, with a dark brown band along the fringe. Larva : pale to dark green with a white stripe running along both sides of the body.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Margaroniini
- Genus
- Diaphania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Texas; Florida to Central America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on the leaves, soft stems and fruit of a variety of cucurbits. They can destroy large sections of plants and bind parts of the leaves together with silk and frass. On occasion, the larvae have been known to damage the flowers. After the fruit starts to develop, the larvae can chew shallow holes in the surface, especially where the fruit is in close contact with the ground. They often pupate in these holes, causing blemishes which downgrade the fruit.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Diaphania indica. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207
What is Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207?
Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207 (Diaphania indica) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207?
Adult : WS≈20–25 mm Larva : 15 mm
How do you identify Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207?
Adult : Wings are white, with a dark brown band along the fringe. Larva : pale to dark green with a white stripe running along both sides of the body.
Where is Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207 found?
Range: Southern Texas; Florida to Central America.
What does Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207 eat?
The diet of the Cucumber Moth - Hodges#5207 includes Caterpillars feed on the leaves, soft stems and fruit of a variety of cucurbits. They can destroy large sections of plants and bind parts of the leaves together with silk and frass. On occasion, the larvae have been known to damage the flowers. After the fruit starts to develop, the larvae can chew shallow holes in the surface, especially where the fruit is in close contact with the ground. They often pupate in these holes, causing blemishes which downgrade the fruit..