Bug FAQWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
Elophila obliteralis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Crambidae
Also called: Waterlily Leafcutter
The waterlily leafcutter moth has a wingspan of about 10 to 22 mm, with females larger than males. It originates from eastern North America and adults are active from May through August. Larvae eat many aquatic plants such as hydrilla, water hyacinth, water lettuce, water lilies and pondweeds.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 10 to 22 mm; males are smaller than females.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on a variety of aquatic plants, including hydrilla, water hyacinth, water lettuce, water lilies and pondweeds.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to eastern North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 44 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Crambidae)
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Celery Leaftier MothUdea rubigalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Elegant Grass-veneerMicrocrambus elegans
Hawaiian Beet Webworm MothSpoladea recurvalisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Garden Grass-veneerChrysoteuchia culmellaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bluegrass Webworm MothParapediasia teterrellusDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elophila_obliteralis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.