Crambidae

63.114 Brown China-mark Elophila nymphaeata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common

Similar species:

Forewing: 12 to 16mm

Habitats: The margins of ponds, lakes, flooded gravel pits and slow flowing rivers and canals. Also marshes and bogs.

Habits: The moth is easily disturbed from aquatic vegetation during the day. It flies from dusk onwards and comes to light.

Foodplant: The young aquatic larva mines a leaf and later lives in a floating case comprising of leaf fragments. It feeds on pondweeds, water-plantains, Frogbit, water lilies or bur-reeds. To feed it temporarily spins its case to the underside of a leaf. It pupates in a silk cocoon disguised with bits of leaf and spun to a stem just under the water surface.