Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Hexapoda Order Lepidoptera Rank Species | Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Family Crambidae | |
 | ||
Similar Samea ecclesialis, Cyrtobagous salviniae, Hymenia perspectalis, Nomophila nearctica, Diacme elealis | ||
The salvinia stem-borer moth (Samea multiplicalis) is a species of moth of the Crambidae family found from the southeastern United States south to Argentina. It is an introduced species in Australia, where it is found in Queensland and New South Wales.
The wingspan is about 20 mm. Adults are tan with darker markings on both the fore wings and hind wings.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia rotundifolia, Azolla caroliniana, and occasionally Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna species. They often feed inside a shelter formed of silk and hairs, although this is not always present. Young larvae are dirty-white to pale yellow. They become yellow-green when full-grown. Pupation takes place within a silk cocoon in the inflated leaf petioles.