Host plants:
The larva feeds within the stems of several robust grasses. I observed them only in Tripidium ravennae in Rhodes.
Habitat:
Sesamia cretica inhabits mots often river beds that are partly dry in summer, but also other places with host plants, even corn fields.
Life cycle:
Sesamia cretica potentially has several generations per year and can be found year-round in subtropical regions. But regionally it seems to have adapted to local host plants. I recorded many half-grown to mature larvae in flower stems of Tripidium ravennae in Rhodes in September 2013. This robust grass started flourishing at that time. At the same time traces and old empty pupal skins could be observed in last year's stems. In following rearing the larvae hibernated at about 10-15 degrees Centigrade in stems and pupated after temperature increasement without refeeding from February, but with large idividual delays. Thus adults should be most common between May and July or early August in Rhodes. This may be regarded as adaption of larval development to Trepidium ravennae, which flowers only late in the season.
Remarks:
Sesamia cretica occurs in Southern Europe and in parts of Africa and Asia (e.g. Turkey, Near and Middle East, India).
Hints on determination:
The male antennae of Sesamia nonagrioides are much longer ciliated. In females of Sesamia nonagriodes, there are often dark spots on forewings. But at least in females without spots, genital dissection is essential.