Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1
Melitara doddalis
This record describes Melitara doddalis (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Melitara doddalis adults have extensive dark-brown or black suffusions in the posterior half of the fore wing (plate 3, figure 16), and the black line associ ated with the antemedial line is missing, or weakly formed. Genitalia: ♀ ♂ My clearest specimens match the photo 16 in the Nunzig Plate as well as his description of how to differentiate M. dentata , M.texana and M. doddalis . I have 7 specimens in BIN BOLD:AAB3393 which contains mostly specimens of Canadian Melitara dentata . A number of my specimens have been matched to Ed Knudson's Smithsonian specimen - one female at 100%. Therefore, I feel confident in my identification. - Ann Hendrickson 9/22/2022
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Melitara (Pricklypear Borer)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"Most common in southern Arizona, doddalis also occurs in southern New Mexico and south-western Texas (and northern Mexico)."
Diet and Behavior
Life History
1 brood; October emergence - Ann Hendrickson
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Melitara doddalis. 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 Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by A. Hendrickson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1
What is Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1?
Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1 (Melitara doddalis) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1?
WL: 18.0-19.5mm
How do you identify Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1?
Melitara doddalis adults have extensive dark-brown or black suffusions in the posterior half of the fore wing (plate 3, figure 16), and the black line associ ated with the antemedial line is missing, or weakly formed. Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1 found?
Range: Most common in southern Arizona, doddalis also occurs in southern New Mexico and south-western Texas (and northern Mexico).
What is the life cycle of a Melitara doddalis - Hodges# 5971.1?
1 brood; October emergence - Ann Hendrickson