Waterlily Leafcutter Moth
Common NameWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
Scientific NameElophila nymphaeata
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyAcentropinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, white, grey
HabitatAquatic environments, ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia, introduced to North America
Host Plantswater lilies (Nymphaea spp.), pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.), other floating-leaved aquatic plants
Flight PeriodMay to September (often two generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are aquatic, living in cases made from host plant leaves, feeding on the underside of leaves and breathing through gills. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon attached to the host plant, often underwater.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive mottled brown and white wing pattern, its association with aquatic habitats, and the characteristic leaf-cutting damage it causes on water lilies and other floating-leaved plants.
Description
A small moth with mottled brown, white, and grey wings, featuring a distinct wavy pattern and a somewhat triangular shape when at rest.
