The tale of the disappearing Cattail Borer...

Bellura obliqua, or the Cattail Borer Moth is a unique-looking species and one of my favorites. I don't encounter it too often but there again it is fairly specific about its requirements. The larvae feed on a variety of aquatic plants including American lotus, arrowheads, bur-reed, cattails, pickerelweed and skunk cabbage. According to Covell, the first-instar mines in the leaves of the chosen host whereas later instars bore into the crowns where the larvae overwinters and pupates the following spring. The adult is on the wing from May until August in Southern Ontario.




This Cattail Borer Moth was captured and photographed in Brooklin, Ontario just over a week ago. It is a fairly chunky noctuid with distinctive markings. Note especially the pale area along the costa and base of the fore wing. Note also the slanting orbicular and reniform spots. Unfortunately, the habitat this moth depends upon at this site is rapidly being converted into a housing estate. I see no hope for it here, what a shame.