Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471
Papaipema arctivorens
This record describes Papaipema arctivorens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light orange with rusty red shading and speckling; area beyond PM line dark purplish-brown except for yellowish apical patch and sometimes a yellow subterminal line; orbicular and claviform spots large, white; claviform spot usually split in two, with the smaller portion nearer to orbicular spot; reniform spot filled with ground color, and rimmed with 5 or 6 white spots; basal patch yellowish, contrasting against the brown of the adjacent AM band; hindwing pale brown with darker discal lunule and subterminal band
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Papaipema (Borer Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
fields, waste places; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Quebec to northern Georgia, west to Missouri, north to Minnesota and Ontario
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from August to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae bore in stems or rhizomes of various species of burdock ( Arctium ), thistle ( Cirsium ), teasel ( Dipsacus ), and sometimes vervain ( Verbena ), mullein ( Verbascum ) [Handfield, 1999]; Wood Betony ( Pedicularis canadensis )
Life History
one generation per year mated pair; larva; larva in thistle stem; spent pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papaipema arctivorens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471
What is Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471?
Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 (Papaipema arctivorens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471?
wingspan 27-39 mm
How do you identify Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471?
Adult: forewing light orange with rusty red shading and speckling; area beyond PM line dark purplish-brown except for yellowish apical patch and sometimes a yellow subterminal line; orbicular and claviform spots large, white; claviform spot usually split in two, with the smaller portion nearer to orbicular spot; reniform spot filled with ground color, and rimmed with 5 or 6 white spots; basal patch yellowish, contrasting against the brown of the adjacent AM band; hindwing pale brown with darker discal lunule and subterminal band
Where is Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, waste places; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Quebec to northern Georgia, west to Missouri, north to Minnesota and Ontario |
What does Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 eat?
The diet of the Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 includes larvae bore in stems or rhizomes of various species of burdock ( Arctium ), thistle ( Cirsium ), teasel ( Dipsacus ), and sometimes vervain ( Verbena ), mullein ( Verbascum ) [Handfield, 1999]; Wood Betony ( Pedicularis canadensis ).
When is Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471 active?
Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471: seasonal activity - adults fly from August to October.
What is the life cycle of a Northern Burdock Borer - Hodges#9471?
one generation per year mated pair; larva; larva in thistle stem; spent pupa; adult