Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Crambidae Members:	Diaphania Members:	27 NC Records

Diaphania hyalinata (Linnaeus, 1767) - Melonworm Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Pyraustinae

Tribe:
Spilomelini

P3 Number:
80a0956

MONA Number:
5204.00

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Capinera (2000a)

Adult Markings: This is a very distinctive moth that has silvery white and semitransparent wings that are edged with a thick band of brown along the costa and outer margin. The head and thorax are brown, while the abdomen is silvery white except for the brown tip. A prominent anal brush is present on both sexes.

Wingspan: 25 mm (Capinera, 2000a).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: The following life history account is based on that of Capinera (2000a). The females lay clusters of 2-6 eggs on average on the buds, stems and undersides of leaves of squash or other cucurbit host plants. The eggs hatch in 3-4 days and the newly hatched larvae are colorless. By the second instar they are pale yellow-green, and during the fifth instar develop two subdorsal white stripes along the body that disappear just before pupation.

The larvae construct loose silken structures on the undersides of leaves which serve as daytime shelters, and leave these at night or at other times to feed on the foliage. The entire leaf is usually consumed except for the larger veins. If the available foliage is exhausted, or the plant is a less preferred species such as cantaloupe, then the larvae may either feed on the fruit surface or burrow into the fruit and cause spoilage. The larvae pass through five instars that last around two weeks, then commonly pupate in a leaf fold on the host plant within a loose cocoon. The adults emerge in 9-10 days, with the entire sequence from egg to adult requiring around one month. Local populations often pass through 1-3 generations per year depending on the latitude and time of arrival after a long-distance dispersal event.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Much like the Pickleworm Moth (Diaphania nitidalis), this is a tropical and subtropical species that cannot survive significant freezing winter temperatures. It overwinters successfully in southern Florida and southern Texas, then undergoes major dispersal events northward to invade much of the Southeast each summer. The moths commonly disperse as far as New England and the Great Lakes states, as well adjoining areas of southern Canada. It occurs statewide in North Carolina where it can be a pest on summer squash and other cucurbit vegetables (Capinera, 2000a).

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: This species is freeze-intolerant and only overwinters successfully in southern Florida and southern Texas. It undergoes long-distance dispersal events and typically reaches North Carolina and reproduces during the summer months. As of 2023, our records extends from mid-July through mid-October.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The Melonworm Moth is commonly found in agricultural fields and vegetable gardens where cucurbits are grown. They also are found where local patches of Wild Cucumber are found along edge habitats.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae specialize of members of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), including winter and summer squashes, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkins (Capinera 2000a, Heppner, 2007; Robinson et al., 2010). Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) is a native species that is also used in northern states. In North Carolina this species is restricted to a few counties in the northern Blue Ridge and appears to be an insignificant host. Robinson et al. (2010) list Threeseed Mercury (Acalypha; Euphorbiaceae) and Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) as hosts, both of which could use additional verification. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to building lights and UV-lights and the larvae can be found attacking squash and other host plants.

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species disperses every year from southern sites to North Carolina, but is not capable of establishing permanent breeding populations due to its freeze intolerance.

Photo Gallery for Diaphania hyalinata - Melonworm Moth

Photos: 19

	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-29 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-10-21 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-10-04 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman; G. Newman on 2024-09-26 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-09-21 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-10-04 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2023-10-01 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-10-23 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-10-12 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-09-05 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-08-23 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-02 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Amanda Auxier on 2017-09-30 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2012-07-12 Cabarrus Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-09-23 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Newman, Randy on 2003-09-22 Carteret Co. Comment: