It has a wide distribution and is found in India, Sri Lanka, South-East Asia, South Africa, South America, southern Europe (Spain and Greece), Russia and Australia (the Northern Territory and Queensland).

Due to branched tubular gills, caterpillars can respire in aquatic media.

Pupation occurs when the pupal case is attached to the leaf sheath above the water level.

Larvae can be controlled by using many natural predators like water beetles of the families Hydrophilidae and Dytiscidae.

Adult moths are daily meal for many spiders, insect eating bird species and dragonflies.