Melon Worm
Melon worm (Diaphania sp.) is a Lepidopteran pest infesting cucurbits, pale yellow-green larvae construct loose silken structures under the leaves that serve as shelter for them at daytime.
Image Source: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable
What are the symptoms
Melon worm feed on leaves, leaving the veins intact resulting in a lace-like appearance
On other cucurbits, the larva feeds on the surface, or even burrow on the fruit.
Image Source: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable
Impact to the crop
Severely infested crops may have a significant reduction in yield due to foliage and fruit damage.
How to control
√ Intercropping, trap cropping and mulching are cultural practices that can help in avoiding increase in pest population
√ Biological control using bacterial insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis) and entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae
√ Application of effective and registered Insecticides
Source: University of Florida. 2000. Featured creatures. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/melonworm.htm
