Waterlily Borer Moth vs Small Red Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Waterlily Borer Moth Small Red Damselfly
Scientific Name Elophila gyralis Ceriagrion tenellum
Order Lepidoptera Odonata
Family Crambidae Coenagrionidae
Size 18-24 mm wingspan 25-35mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Waterlily Borer Moth

A small pale brown moth with wavy dark lines across its wings. Its larvae are aquatic, living underwater in cases made from fragments of waterlily leaves.

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Did You Know?

The larvae breathe underwater using modified gills and never surface until they are ready to pupate.

Small Red Damselfly

A delicate damselfly where males are almost entirely red, a rare color for damselflies. Females come in several color forms. It is a weak flier that stays close to waterside vegetation.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the only genuinely red damselflies in Europe, with males displaying a vivid scarlet color.