Parapoynx stratiotata

• Subfamily: Acentropinae
• Wingspan: 20-30 mm
• Flight period: May - Aug
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Ceratophyllaceae - Nymphaeaceae - Potomagetonaceae ...

Information

The Parapoynx stratiotata is a moth of the Crambidae family, subfamily Acentropinae, subfamily characterized by the fact that in most of the species the larvae are aquatic, with wingspan of 20-30 mm.
It is distributed throughout Europe with the exception of Portugal, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine. In Italy it is present also in the islands. *

The Parapoynx stratiotata has a marked dimorphism in the coloring of the wings as the male usually has a much lighter color than the female. It has the bottom color of the wing that varies from dirty white to a pale yellow to a very light brown, while the female has a background color that varies from a dull light brown to an intense brown. In both sexes, a dark brown, almost black, disc-like spot with white pupils is clearly visible. A band with a curvilinear trend is also visible in both sexes, of a color ranging from light brown to brown, bordered in white, in males, wider dark brown in color slightly edged in white in females.
The hind wings, in both sexes, are of a translucent white color, with a band with a curvilinear course and of non-uniform intensity, and at times just hinted at, of a brown color.

Adults of Parapoynx stratiotata fly from June to September depending on the latitude and can be attracted to artificial light. It is a fairly common moth around ponds, lakes and canals, the predilection of the habitats mentioned above is due to the fact that the larva is aquatic and feeds on various plants that live in water.

The larva feeds on the leaves of Nymphaeaceae, such as Nymphaea alba and Nuphar lutea (Yellow water lily), of Potomagetonaceae such as Potamogeton, of Plantaginaceae such as Callitriche, of Ceratophyllaceae such as Ceratophyllum demersum, of Hydrocharitaceae such as Elodea canadensis and Stratiotes. **


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa - https://www.leps.it/