Diaphania indica

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Diaphania indica, commonly known as the cucumber moth or cotton caterpillar, is a moth in the grass moth family (Crambidae). It is native to southern Asia but now occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. It is a notable pest of cucurbit crops like cucumbers and can feed on other plants as well.

Description:
The wingspan is about 30 mm. Adults have translucent white wings with broad dark brown borders. The body is whitish underneath and brown on the top of the head and thorax. A distinctive feature in females is a tuft of light brown hairs at the tip of the abdomen, which can be spread out to release pheromones.

Habits and pest status:
The caterpillar (larva) stage feeds on the leaves of host plants, making the species an agricultural pest. It is quite polyphagous and often affects crops in the Cucurbitoideae group, especially cucumbers, because those crops are widely grown.

Distribution:
Diaphania indica is native to South Asia but ranges into southern China and Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the Maluku Islands, as well as the Philippines. It is widespread in Australia, where it is a pest in the northern part of the country. The moth has also been found in other regions, including parts of Africa and various Pacific islands, likely introduced with traded plants.

Taxonomy:
The cucumber moth has a long history of being described under several different names and placed in different genera before being settled in Diaphania in 1931.