Cadra calidella, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki
Cadra calidella
MOTH INFO
Cadra calidella is a moth of the family Pyralidae on the island of Crete, Greece.
Scientific name
Cadra calidella (Guenée, 1845)
Ephestia calidella (Guenée, 1845)
Common name
Dried Fruit Moth, Date Moth
Classification
Superfamily: Pyraloidea > Family: Pyralidae > Subfamily: Phycitinae > Tribus: Phycitini > Genus: Cadra
Wingspan
17-20 mm
Habitat
Warehouses, farm buildings, and their surroundings.
Food plant
It is a common storage food pest in Mediterranean countries, although it can be found in other parts of Europe due to the transport of the carobs and dried fruits on which it feeds. The larva feeds on dried fruits before harvest, ripe carob pods, nuts, and seeds.
The following is a list of known hosts that C. calidella associates with:
- Capsicum annuum (chili peppers)
- Castanea sp. (Walnuts)
- Ceratonia silique (Carob tree)
- Various dried foodstuffs
- Ficus sp.
- Ficus carica (Common fig)
- Morus sp.
- Phoenix sp.
- Prunus sp.
- Prunus dulcis (Almond)
- Theobroma cacao (Cacao tree)
Flight period
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Links
Notes
It is commonly mistaken for Cadra figulilella and other Ephestia species and is generally separable only by genitalia dissection—doubtful identification.
