Moths of North Carolina

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Elophila obliteralis (Walker, 1859) - Waterlily Leafcutter Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Pyraloidea

Family:
Crambidae

Subfamily:
Acentropinae

Tribe:
Nymphulini

P3 Number:
80a1313

MONA Number:
4755.00

MONA Synonym:
Synclita obliteralis

Comments: The genus Elophila contains nearly 50 described species that occur on most continents worldwide. Nine species occur in North America – including seven in North Carolina -- and all have aquatic larvae that feed on floating and submerged plants. The larvae live in cases that are constructed from cut-out portions of leaves or leaf fragments, with pupation occurring within the case. The larvae are gill-less and appear to obtain oxygen by storing air in their cases.

Species Status: "Females of tinealis and males of obliteralis can be confused. Need to know size and sex" (Scholtens, 2017)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Synclita obliteralis); Beadle and Leckie (2012; as Synclita obliteralis)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Habeck and Cuda (2009)

Adult Markings: Elophila obliteralis is sexually dimorphic, with the males being smaller (forewing length = 5-6 mm), darker, and with proportionately wider forewings. The ground color of the forewing is fuscous and is obscurely variegated with brown (Munroe, 1972). A whitish, crescent-shaped, reniform spot is present on the forewings of both sexes. The females are larger (forewing length = 7-9 mm) and are lighter-colored. The forewing coloration and patterning varies, but most specimens have a grayish brown or orangish-brown ground that is overlain with varying amounts of darker dusting. This is often concentrated near the wing base, the middle, and the subterminal region to form diffuse dark bands. On some individuals the dark bands are margined with white scales on the apical margin.

Wingspan: 5-6 mm for males and 7-9 mm for females (Munroe, 1972)

Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1972) has illustrations and descriptions of the male genitalia.

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: The larvae are highly polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of aquatic plants, including duckweeds (Stoops et al., 1998; Habeck and Cuda, 2009). The females lay whitish eggs singly or in overlapping, ribbon-like masses near the edges of submersed leaf surfaces. The larvae typically construct an oval, flattened case from two leaves or pieces of leaves and remain in their cases when feeding on leaves or stems. As they grow they abandon their existing cases and create larger ones to accommodate their larger body size. When using duckweed they make a case by webbing together individual plants. The older larvae have a creamy-white body that phases into light brown between the fourth abdominal segment and the prothorax (Dray and Center, 2002; Habeck and Cuda, 2009). The head is yellowish-brown with a faint brown cheek stripe. The larvae lack tracheal gills, which is unique among North American members of this genus. Pupation occurs within the case. The larvae of Elophila obliteralis can reach high densities in Florida wetlands. This and other aquatic moths appear to play a significant role in controlling invasive plants such as Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes; Foley et al., 2023).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from close inspection of specimens or by DNA analysis.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Elophila obliteralis is widely distributed across the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada. Populations that likely reflect introductions are present in western North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. In the US, population range from the New England states westward to the Dakotas and southward to southern Texas and southern Florida. This species occurs statewide in North Carolina.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults fly year-round in Florida and for progressively shorter periods as one moves north. The flight season in Alberta last around four months. As of 2023, our records extend from late-March to mid-October. Local populations presumably have two or more overlapping broods per year.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The aquatic larvae utilized a wide variety of habitats with good growths of aquatic plants. They have been found in both lentic and lotic systems.

Larval Host Plants: The larvae are highly polyphagous and have been found feeding on nearly 60 species of plants from 22 families and 40 genera (Heppner and Habeck, 1976; Stoops et al., 1998; Habeck and Cuda, 2009). Some representative genera include Amaranthus, Azolla, Brasenia, Eichhornia, Eleocharis, Elodea, Hydrilla, Hydrocotyle, Lemna, Ludwigia, Marsilea, Myriophyllum, Nelumbo, Nuphar, Nymphaea, Nymphoides, Orontium, Pistia, Polygonum, Pontederia, Potamogeton, Sagittaria and Salvinia. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to UV-lights and the larvae can be collected by searching aquatic vegetation.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Herbaceous Ponds

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: This species appears to be common throughout most of the state, but locally restricted to where suitable aquatic breeding sites are present.

Photo Gallery for Elophila obliteralis - Waterlily Leafcutter Moth

202 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-13 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-09-02 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-08-22 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-02 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-10 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, David Cheng, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-17 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-11 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-07 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-03 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-20 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-05-16 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-13 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Jim Petranka, John Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-05-09 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-02 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-15 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, John Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment: