Kingdom Animalia Family Pyralidae Genus Melitara Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | Class Insecta Tribe Phycitini Scientific name Melitara prodenialis Rank Species | |
Similar Melitara, Butterflies and moths, Cactoblastis, Cactus moth, Melitara dentata | ||
Melitara prodenialis is a moth of the Pyralidae family. It is native to North America, where it is known from south-eastern New York to Florida along the Atlantic coastal plain, and west to eastern Oklahoma and north-central and south-eastern Texas. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.
There are two generations per year throughout most of its range, but three generations in Florida. Adults are on wing from June to July and from September to October in Arkansas.
The larvae feed on Opuntia species, including Opuntia humifusa var. ammophila, Opuntia humifusa var. austrina, Opuntia macrorhiza, Opuntia pusilla, Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia sticta. Larvae are gregarious within the cladode, and may feed in several clododes to complete development.
Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon on the surface of the soil under a dead cladode or other debris.