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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Squash Vine Borer
Melittia cucurbitae Harris, 1828
Family: Sesiidae
Subfamily: Sesiinae
Identification: Conspicuous orange abdomen with black spots and long, bushy, orange and black hind legs. Body and forewing black with greenish iridescence. Hindwing transparent.
Wing Span: 2.5-3.2 cm.
Life History: Larva bores into plant stems.
Flight: April-November; two broods southward.
Caterpillar Hosts: A pest of squashes, gourds, and pumpkins. Also seen on milkweed.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Throughout eastern North America.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: NULL
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 104 verified sightings

Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Nelson Mostow
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022

Observation date: Aug 02, 2022
Submitted by: Adria Budd Johnson
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022

Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Boone County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022

Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Traveling_gopher
Region: Loudon County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022

Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: robpendergast
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022

Observation date: Jun 12, 2022
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Metcalfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022

Observation date: Feb 24, 2022
Submitted by: Neal2022
Region: Autauga County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Mar 10, 2022

Observation date: Jul 02, 2014
Submitted by: patricia silvernail
Region: Jackson County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 09, 2022

Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021

Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021

Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021

Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021

Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021

Observation date: Jun 23, 2021
Submitted by: Mi_rachael
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 24, 2021

Observation date: Jun 01, 2021
Submitted by: sedges
Region: Georgia, Stephens County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021

Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: Slbdesign
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021

Observation date: Jul 03, 2017
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 08, 2021

Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gibson
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 06, 2020

Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: teachsci
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 03, 2020

Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 26, 2020

Observation date: Jul 29, 2013
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Jasper County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020

Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Clark
Region: St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020

Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Bzbamona
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020

Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
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