Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths (Pyraloidea) » Crambid Snout Moths (Crambidae) » Acentropinae » Nymphulini » Parapoynx » Obscure Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4760 (Parapoynx obscuralis)

Species Parapoynx obscuralis - Obscure Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4760

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Moth - Parapoynx obscuralis Obscure Pondweed Moth - Parapoynx obscuralis Obscure Pondweed Moth - Parapoynx obscuralis Obscure Pondweed Moth - Parapoynx obscuralis Parapoynx obscuralis - male Moth - Parapoynx obscuralis 3041692 MOTH - Parapoynx obscuralis Parapoynx obscuralis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Subfamily Acentropinae
Tribe Nymphulini
Genus Parapoynx
Species obscuralis (Obscure Pondweed Moth - Hodges#4760)
Hodges Number
4760
Other Common Names
Vallisneria Leafcutter
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Parapoynx obscuralis – (Grote, 1881)
* phylogenetic sequence #143650
Size
wingspan 17-26 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing of male white with variable brown shading and thick white PM line; forewing of female nearly all dark brown; hindwing white with brown or blackish ST band and orange terminal band
Genitalia:
♀
♂

Larva: branched gills on all body segments except head and prothorax (applies to all larvae in genus Parapoynx)
Range
eastern North America (Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Wisconsin and Ontario)
Habitat
larvae are aquatic, developing in rivers and streams (but apparently not ponds or other standing water); adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
adults fly from June to August
Food
larvae feed on eelgrass (Vallisneria, pondweed (Potamogeton), yellow waterlily (Nuphar), and other aquatic plants
Remarks
larva is a casemaker
See Also
Parapoynx seminealis
Print References
Hodges, Ronald W. (ed.), 1983; Check List of the Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group - range map, photos of living and pinned adults.
BOLD - Barcode of Life Data Systems - species account with collection map and photos of pinned adults.
live adult images plus description and food plants (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
characteristics of Parapoynx larvae in article on Asian Hydrilla Moth (Ted Center et al, U. of Florida)
presence in Florida; list and common name reference [Vallisneria Leafcutter] (Michael Thomas, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)
presence in Texas; list (James Gillaspy, U. of Texas)
presence in Ontario; list (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
Works Cited
1.Check list of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico.
Hodges, et al. (editors). 1983. E. W. Classey, London. 284 pp.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 12 March, 2006 - 12:19am
Additional contributions by Tony-2, Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 10 March, 2024 - 8:55pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact