Phycita diaphana
# Phycita diaphana

Phycita diaphana is a species of snout moth. It is found in Portugal, Spain, Greece, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Yemen, Western Sahara and Israel.

## Description

The wingspan is 23–26 mm.

## Biology

Phycita diaphana is a common, invasive pest of Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) throughout the Mediterranean region. In addition to R. communis, Ph. diaphana larvae are also found feeding on Populus euphranica Oliv. (Salicaceae) and Chrozophora tintoria (L.) (= verbascifolia (Willd.)) (Euphorbiaceae). Yelicones iranus (Fischer, 1963) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) has been reported as a parasitoid of caterpillars of Phycita diaphana in Israel.

