It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1925, and is found in the United States in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, south-western Texas and in northern Mexico.

Pupation occurs on the ground during August and September.

They tunnel downward into the basal segments of the host plant.

[2] In 2020 a study found that M. doddalis is unselective as to which Opuntiae it chooses to feed upon.

[3] The species was previously considered a synonym of Melitara dentata.