It is native to eastern North America.

It is an introduced species in Hawaii and South Africa.

[1] The wingspan is 10–22 mm with the male being smaller than the female.

Adults are on wing from May to August in North America.

The larvae feed on a wide range of aquatic plants, including Hydrilla verticillata, Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Nymphaea and Potamogeton species.