Elophila nymphaeata

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Brown china mark
Elophila.nymphaeata.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Elophila
Species:
E. nymphaeata
Binomial name
Elophila nymphaeata
Synonyms
  • Phalaena (Geometra) nymphaeataLinnaeus, 1758
  • Nymphula nymphaeata auralisOsthelder, 1935
  • Elophila interruptalis ezoensisYoshiyasu, 1985
  • Nymphula nymphaeata hederalisAmsel, 1935
  • Hydrocampa algiralisGuenée, 1849
  • Hydrocampa nigraFoucart, 1876
  • Hydrocampa obscuralisSelys-Longchamps, 1845
  • Hydrocampa nymphaealisDenis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Nymphula latifaseataRothschild, 1921
  • Nymphula latifasciataKlima, 1937
  • Nymphula nymphaeata f. reductaLattin, 1958
  • Nymphula sordidiorRothschild, 1921
  • Nymphula umbrataMeder, 1934
  • Phalaena (Geometra) potamogataLinnaeus, 1758
  • Hydrocampa potamogetalisReutti, 1898
  • Hydrocampa potamogalisDenis & Schiffermüller, 1775
  • Phalaena nympheataHufnagel, 1767
  • Phalaena rivulataScopoli, 1763
  • Elophila nymphaeata silarigla(Speidel, 1984)

Elophila nymphaeata, the brown china mark, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

Contents

Distribution

It is found in Europe and across the Palearctic to the Russian Far East and China. The moth is notable as its larva, like most members of the crambid subfamily Acentropinae, is aquatic and has tracheal gills.[ citation needed ]

Description

The wingspan is 16–20 mm. The forewings vary from yellow-ochreous to rather dark fuscous; basal area with dentate white and dark fuscous lines; a white subcostal spot before first line; lines whitish, obscure, dark-margined, first angulated above middle, second with deep abrupt sinuation inwards below middle; median band almost occupied by three white dark edged blotches; an irregular interrupted white dark-edged and dark-veined subterminal streak. Hindwings as forewings, but base white, median band white except discal spot, second lineless sinuate. The larva is light brownish; dorsal line darker; head light brown; plate of 2 black-edged. In flat oval floating cases of leaf-fragments, on Potamogeton, Hydrocharis, Sparganium, etc. [2] See also Parsons et al. [3]

Figs 3, 3b, 3e, 3h, 3l larvae in various stages of growth; 3a, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3g, 3i, 3j,3k,3 m, 3n, 3o cases with larvae in various stages of growthon floating water plants (Potamogeton natans, Alisma plantago, Sparganium simplex, Myosotis palustris) Buckler W The larvae of the British butterflies and moths PlateCLI.jpg
Figs 3, 3b, 3e, 3h, 3l larvae in various stages of growth; 3a, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3g, 3i, 3j,3k,3 m, 3n, 3o cases with larvae in various stages of growthon floating water plants (Potamogeton natans, Alisma plantago, Sparganium simplex, Myosotis palustris)

Biology

The moth flies from May to September depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Potamogeton , Nymphaeaceae and Nuphar lutea .

Subspecies

References

  1. "GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  2. Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Keys and description
  3. Mark Parsons, Sean Clancy, David Wilson A Guide to the Pyralid and Crambid Moths of Britain and Ireland: Atropos, England. ISBN   9780955108648