Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751
Elophila gyralis
This record describes Elophila gyralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: sexually dimorphic - female usually unmarked orangish-yellow to dark brown; male forewing orangish-brown to dark grayish-brown; lines of male black with white edging; AM and PM lines connected at upper and lower third to form loops from costa and inner margin; terminal line white, composed of a series of inward-projecting wedges; hindwing whitish to gray. male female
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Nymphulini
- Genus
- Elophila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Larvae are aquatic; adults may be flushed from nearby vegetation during the day but are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include Quebec to Florida,, Manitoba to Texas.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is April to October. Heppner reported January to December in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves and bore into petioles of waterlilies.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elophila gyralis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Vox Sciurorum , Robert Lord Zimlich , Fyn Kynd
Frequently Asked Questions About Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751
What is Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751?
Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 (Elophila gyralis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751?
Wingspan 16-30 mm; female larger than male
How do you identify Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751?
Adult: sexually dimorphic - female usually unmarked orangish-yellow to dark brown; male forewing orangish-brown to dark grayish-brown; lines of male black with white edging; AM and PM lines connected at upper and lower third to form loops from costa and inner margin; terminal line white, composed of a series of inward-projecting wedges; hindwing whitish to gray. male female
Where is Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Larvae are aquatic; adults may be flushed from nearby vegetation during the day but are nocturnal and attracted to light. |
| Range | Heppner reported the range to include Quebec to Florida,, Manitoba to Texas. |
What does Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 eat?
The diet of the Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 includes Larvae feed on leaves and bore into petioles of waterlilies..
When is Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751 active?
Waterlily Borer - Hodges#4751: seasonal activity - The main flight period is April to October. Heppner reported January to December in Florida..