Stem borer (Lepidoptera) in Echinocystis

Record Details

Record no.:	0205
Feeding guild:	Stem borer
Taxonomy:	Lepidoptera: cf. Sesiidae: Eichlinia cucurbitae
Stages observed:	trace, larva
Distribution observed:	IA
Hosts in Echinocystis:	E. lobata (wild cucumber)

I encountered a larva of this borer in a stem node of the host in mid-August 2021. The larva had tunneled in the adjoining petiole, leaving behind grains of light yellowish-brown frass, and the tendril emerging from the node had wilted.

The larva itself had a black head and prothoracic shield, along with small gray spots on the sides of its body segments and a dark gray or black terminal abdominal segment. These features, along with the host plant family, appeared consistent with what would be expected for a young larva of Eichlinia cucurbitae, based on the images or illustrations in Chittenden (1908), Coin et al. (2026), and University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health (2026). However, I was unable to confirm this identification with rearing, and it should be understood as tentative.

Featured Images

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Image #: 205-01 Inhabited stem, with affected node to the right of center. Note browned and shriveled tendril connected to node.

Image #: 205-02 Damage to stem node with ejected frass.

Image #: 205-03 Tunneling in petiole attached to node.

Image #: 205-04 Frass in petiole tunnel.

Image #: 205-06 Stem node, dissected, showing larva inside.

References

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Chittenden, F.H. 1908. The squash-vine borer. (Melittia satyriniformis Hbn.). United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology, Circular No. 38, second revision. Retrieved September 14, 2026 from http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41396519.[return to in-text citation]
Coin, P., Moisset, B., McLeod, R., Gould, A., Quinn, M., Heiman, M., Eiseman, C.S., O'Connor, M., Hardy, R., Childs, K., Austin, K., and J. VanDyk (ed.). 2026. Species Eichlinia cucurbitae - Squash Vine Borer - Hodges#2536. Species information page at BugGuide.net. Retrieved September 14, 2026 from https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/11810.[return to in-text citation]
University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health (ed.). 2026. Squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae (Harris)). Subject page at InsectImages.org. Retrieved September 14, 2026 from https://www.insectimages.org/browse/subject/8922?tab=view-images.[return to in-text citation]

Page created: October 2, 2026. Last update: none