Elophila occidentalis

Elophila occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Elophila
Species: E. occidentalis
Binomial name
Elophila occidentalis
(Lange, 1956)
Synonyms
  • Synclita occidentalis Lange, 1956

Elophila occidentalis is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Lange in 1956.[1] It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California, Arizona and Nebraska.

The wingspan is 11–15 mm for males and 15–22 mm for females. The forewings are fuscous with rufous and white markings. The hindwings are fuscous with a reddisch area at the base. Adults have been recorded on wing from June to September[2] in two to three generations per year.

The larvae feed on Echinodorus cordifolius, Bacopa rotundifolia, Potamogeton gramineus, Sigittaria species, Typha californica and Jussiaea californica. Young larvae cut a small peace of a leaf of their host plant and shelter beneath this while feeding on the leaf. Older larvae create a case. Young larvae are white, but turn pale green when growing older. Full-grown larvae reach a length of about 16 mm. Pupation takes place in a silken cocoon made inside the case.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "global Pyraloidea database". Globiz.pyraloidea.org. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  2. ↑ mothphotographersgroup
  3. ↑ Aquatic Insects of California: With Keys to North American Genera and California species


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