Aquatic caterpillars
Acentropinae · Aquatic life
Whole animal · Photo: Licheng Shih / CC BY
Also called Aquatic moth larvae, China mark moths, Water lily leafcutter, Parapoynx, Elophila, Petrophila, Acentropinae
How to identify Aquatic caterpillars
- Small, soft caterpillars about 1/4 to 1 inch with a darker head
- Six short true legs plus fleshy prolegs along the body
- Many live in flat cases cut from two leaf pieces, stuck under lily pads or pondweed
- Some have tufts of threadlike gills along the body
- Oval holes and cut edges on floating leaves
Similar species
Caddisfly larvae have no prolegs along the middle of the body and most build cases from sticks, sand or plant bits. Water lily leaf beetle larvae are dark and slug like on top of the pads.
Profile
| Season | Larvae most noticeable midsummer through fall; small moths fly in summer. |
|---|---|
| Starts | Feeding increases as water warms in summer |
| Depth | On and under floating leaves and plant stems |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Winged adult moths fly |
| Habitat | Floating and submerged plants such as water lilies, pondweeds and watermilfoil in ponds and lakes; a few on rocks in streams. |
Why it matters in a lake
Can chew noticeable holes in water lilies and pondweeds but rarely kill plants. Native insects that are part of the normal plant bed community.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Rare
Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Crambidae |
| Scientific name | Acentropinae |
Midge larvae (bloodworms)
Mosquito larvae
Dragonfly nymphs
Damselfly nymphs
Water boatmen
Backswimmers
Predaceous diving beetles
Water striders
Mayfly nymphs
Caddisfly larvaeNeed a hand?
Found it in your lake?
Send us a photo and we will identify it and tell you what it means for your lake.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596