Elophila obliteralis, the waterlily leafcutter moth, is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1859. It is native to eastern North America. It is an introduced species in Hawaii and South Africa.[1]
| Elophila obliteralis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Crambidae |
| Genus: | Elophila |
| Species: | E. obliteralis
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| Binomial name | |
| Elophila obliteralis (Walker, 1859)
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| Synonyms | |
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This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2022) |
The wingspan is 10–22 mm with the male being smaller than the female. Adults are on wing from May to August in North America.
The larvae feed on a wide range of aquatic plants, including Hydrilla verticillata, Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Nymphaea and Potamogeton species. At birth, larvae have a longitudinal tracheal system and some long simple hairs but do not later acquire filamentous gills. It forms a case of leaf debris. The larvae are about 9 mm long and have a pale brown head and a dull pallid-green body.
References edit
- ^ Agassiz, David J. L. (2012). "The Acentropinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) of Africa" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3494: 1–73. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3494.1.1. ISBN 978-1-86977-986-3.
External links edit
- Zimmerman, Elwood C. (1958). Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 8 Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea. University of Hawaii Press. hdl:10125/7337.
- Murray, Tom (December 22, 2016). "Species Elophila obliteralis - Waterlily Leafcutter - Hodges#4755". BugGuide. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- Images