Melittia oedipus

Melittia oedipus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sesiidae
Genus: Melittia
Species: M. oedipus
Binomial name
Melittia oedipus
Oberthür, 1878[1]
Synonyms
  • Melittia ignidiscata Hampson, 1910
  • Melittia oedipoides Strand, 1913
  • Melittia thoracalis Strand, 1916

Melittia oedipus, the African vine borer, is a moth of the Sesiidae family. It originates from Africa (where it is known from Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya), but has been introduced in Hawaii to control ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis).

Damage

The wingspan is 10–15 mm.

The larvae feed on Coccinia grandis.

References


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