Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Pyralidae Members:	Melitara Members:	38 NC Records

Melitara prodenialis Walker, 1863 - Eastern Cactus-boring Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Pyralidae

Subfamily:
Phycitinae

Tribe:
Phycitini

P3 Number:
80a0513

MONA Number:
5970.00

Species Status: "May also have Cactoblastis cactorum on coast, which is very close in appearance" (Scholtens, 2017)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:

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

Technical Description, Adults: Neunzig (1996)

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats:

Larval Host Plants: Larvae reportedly feed on cacti, including prickly-pears (Opuntia spp.) and Yucca (Robinson et al., 2010). In North Carolina, our only feeding record is for a prickly-pear. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Dry-Xeric Sand Barrens and Glades

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 S3S4

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

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Melitara prodenialis - Eastern Cactus-boring Moth

Photos: 27

	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-14 Moore Co. Comment: A prickly pear pad that was cut open to revel the frass and tunnels when the larvae bored through the pad.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-14 Moore Co. Comment: A prickly pear pad that was cut open to revel the frass and tunnels when the larvae bored through the pad.		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-06-13 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-05-20 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-05-18 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-27 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-27 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26 Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Steve Hall, and Bo Sullivan. on 2022-09-26 Scotland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-09-24 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-06-07 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2022-05-30 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2022-05-30 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-10-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2021-10-12 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2021-10-03 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2020-10-23 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2013-06-04 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Newman,Randy on 2006-05-10 Carteret Co. Comment: