Elophila obliteralis

Elophila obliteralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Elophila
Species:	E. obliteralis
Binomial name
	Elophila obliteralis; (Walker, 1859)
Synonyms
	Isopteryx obliteralis Walker, 1859; Synclita obliteralis; Nymphula obliteralis; Hydrocampa obliteralis; Hydrocampa proprialis Fernald, 1888; Synclita proprialis (Fernald, 1859);

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]

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

^ 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

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

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[1] 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.

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