Biology:Elophila occidentalis

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of moth

Elophila occidentalis
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
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 family Crambidae. It was described by William Harry Lange in 1956.[1] It is found in the United States, 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 reddish 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

Wikidata ☰ Q18089243 entry