{"id":5366,"date":"2026-02-20T15:43:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/?post_type=organism&#038;p=5366"},"modified":"2026-02-20T15:43:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:43:44","slug":"pickleworm","status":"publish","type":"organism","link":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/en\/organism\/pickleworm","title":{"rendered":"Pickleworm"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-5366","organism","type-organism","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":{"common_name":"Pickleworm","scientific_name":"Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll)","taxonomy":{"order":"Lepidoptera","family":"Crambidae","genus":"Diaphania","species":"nitidalis"},"overview":"<p data-start=\"2970\" data-end=\"3140\">Pickleworm is a tropical and subtropical pest of cucurbits in North and South America. The larvae feed on blossoms and young foliage before boring into developing fruits.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3142\" data-end=\"3253\">Because older larvae feed inside fruits, they are protected from insecticide contact, making control difficult.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3255\" data-end=\"3318\">Young fruits are especially vulnerable before the rind hardens.<\/p>","at_a_glance":{"host_plants":"Watermelon, melon, pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd","where_you_see_it":"Blossoms, rolled leaves, inside young fruits","seasonality":"Warm seasons; multiple generations in tropical climates","typical_damage":"Bored fruit, blossom drop, frass at entry holes"},"difficulty":"high: High","virus_risk":"none","sections":{"identification":"<p data-start=\"3685\" data-end=\"3693\">Adults<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul data-start=\"3694\" data-end=\"3802\">\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3694\" data-end=\"3752\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3696\" data-end=\"3752\">Dark brown moth with pale yellow spot on each forewing<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3753\" data-end=\"3778\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3755\" data-end=\"3778\">Pale yellow hindwings<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3779\" data-end=\"3802\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3781\" data-end=\"3802\">Active after sunset<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"3804\" data-end=\"3812\">Larvae<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul data-start=\"3813\" data-end=\"3916\">\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3813\" data-end=\"3849\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3815\" data-end=\"3849\">Color variable depending on diet<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3850\" data-end=\"3870\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3852\" data-end=\"3870\">Up to 30 mm long<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3871\" data-end=\"3916\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3873\" data-end=\"3916\">Early instars feed on leaves and blossoms<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"3918\" data-end=\"3929\">Key Clues<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul data-start=\"3930\" data-end=\"4022\">\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3930\" data-end=\"3971\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3932\" data-end=\"3971\">Entry holes in fruit with moist frass<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3972\" data-end=\"3991\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3974\" data-end=\"3991\">Blossom feeding<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"3992\" data-end=\"4022\">\r\n<p data-start=\"3994\" data-end=\"4022\">Larvae hidden inside fruit<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","damage":"Larvae bore into young fruit and feed internally, causing rot and fruit loss. Blossoms and young leaves may also be damaged.","life_cycle":"<p data-start=\"4180\" data-end=\"4245\">Females lay eggs singly or in small groups on foliage or flowers.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4247\" data-end=\"4270\">Eggs hatch in 3\u20134 days.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4272\" data-end=\"4329\">Five larval instars develop over about two weeks at 20\u00b0C.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4331\" data-end=\"4383\">Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon in rolled leaves.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4385\" data-end=\"4446\">Complete life cycle can be around 30 days in warm conditions.<\/p>","monitoring":"<p data-start=\"4465\" data-end=\"4493\">Light traps are ineffective.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4549\">Inspect susceptible squash varieties and young fruits.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4551\" data-end=\"4592\">Look for entry holes and blossom feeding.<\/p>","management":"<p data-start=\"4611\" data-end=\"4660\">Apply insecticides at first signs of infestation.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4662\" data-end=\"4707\">Target young larvae before fruit penetration.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"4709\" data-end=\"4776\">Parasitoid wasps may attack larvae but rarely provide full control.<\/p>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/organisms\/5366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/organisms"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/organism"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cubescircle.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}