jrock
New Member
Posts: 2
|
Post by jrock on Apr 7, 2020 16:22:23 GMT -8
I live in Ottawa, Ontario. I found this bug (moth?) Flying around my house today. Caught him and it's been relaxing outside all day. I've searched online for a while but came up empty handed. Any thoughts what this fury little guy could be? imgur.com/gallery/ThsYkea
|
|
erebia
Junior Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by erebia on Apr 7, 2020 16:56:48 GMT -8
Nice find, it looks like it might be this one or something close to it: Cosmosoma myrodora - Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Apr 7, 2020 18:12:11 GMT -8
That species is actually the Squash Vine Borer Moth (Melittia cucurbitae); native to North America. It is a well known pest species of it's namesake squash as well as related plants like pumpkins. The larvae bore into the vines feeding within and eventually emerge as adults albeit the vine having died off in the process. The resulting squash or pumpkins never fully develop at all or at least to a much reduced size.
This is not Cosmosoma myrodora as that species is found in Florida and from South Carolina on thru all the Gulf States to Texas. Our guest asking the question lives in Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
|
|
erebia
Junior Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by erebia on Apr 7, 2020 18:48:38 GMT -8
Thank you Trehopr1 for providing a more accurate identification.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Apr 7, 2020 21:37:17 GMT -8
It is a Sessidae moth; Melittia cucurbitae (2536). The larva bore into vines of Yellow Squash and Acorn Squash. This species is known from east Texas North and to the Atlantic Ocean.
If you have a garden, plant some Yellow Squash. They are easy collected with the Sessid Pheromone Traps with Squash Vine Borer lure.
Evidently you either purchased some squash that was grown in South Florida or in Central America and it came home with you from the store.
Lure and traps may be purchased from Great Lakes IPM.
|
|
|
Post by tv on Apr 8, 2020 12:12:40 GMT -8
I've caught these before in Massachusetts, so they make it pretty far north.
|
|
leptraps
Banned
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,397
|
Post by leptraps on Apr 8, 2020 16:11:40 GMT -8
I collected several in South Dakota in 2017. I am not sure how far north they occur.
|
|