Our summer fundraiser has arrived, and we need your help!
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!
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!
Melitara subumbrella (Dyar, 1925)
Family: Pyralidae
Subfamily: Phycitinae
Identification:
Wing Span: 3.5-5.2 cm
Life History: Eggs are deposited in a stick shaped pile on cactus pods and fruits. The larvae bore into the pads where they complete the life cycle.
Flight: The main flight period is March to October.
Caterpillar Hosts: Opuntia spp. (prickly-pear cacti).
Adult Food:
Habitat: Dry desert.
Range: Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan to southern Arizona and central Texas.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: Among the largest of the Phycitini, may be mistaken for a noctuid.
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 - 8 of 8 verified sightings

Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2022

Observation date: May 01, 2012
Submitted by: JBJen
Region: Wayne County, Utah, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 24, 2022

Observation date: Oct 04, 2013
Submitted by: OhioHick
Region: Garfield County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 14, 2022

Observation date: Oct 11, 2015
Submitted by: TheBiscuit39
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 14, 2022

Observation date: Sep 22, 2015
Submitted by: colorado2015
Region: Colorado, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 14, 2022

Observation date: Sep 25, 2015
Submitted by: spruegel
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 14, 2022

Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 12, 2021

Observation date: May 18, 2021
Submitted by: kathy lichtendahl
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 25, 2021