Elophila nymphaeata, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki

Elophila nymphaeata, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki

Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

MOTH INFO

Elophila nymphaeata is a moth of the family Crambidae on the island of Crete, Greece.

Scientific name

Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Phalaena (Geometra) nymphaeata Linnaeus, 1758)

Phalaena nymphaealis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Nymphula hederalis (Blackbird, 1935)

Common name
Brown China-mark
Classification

Superfamily: Pyraloidea > Family: Crambidae > Subfamily: Acentropinae > Genus: Elophila

Wingspan

22-33 mm

Habitat

Stream and river banks, marshes, intermittent lakes, canals, and waterlogged meadows.

Food plant

The larva is aquatic and feeds on aquatic plants, i.e. Alismataceae (Alisma plantago-aquatica), Potomagetonaceae (Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton pusillus, Stuckenia pectinata), etc. It can be spotted on the underside of the leaf. It mines the leaf for the first three days and then forms a flat case from which the larva feeds.

Flight period*
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

*based on a few observations on the island

Links

Lepiforum e. V.

Lepidoptera Mundi

Plant Parasites of Europe

The Leaf and Stem Mines of Britain

Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa

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