Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494
Papaipema eryngii
This record describes Papaipema eryngii (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Image (MPG) FWS Listing Status: Listing Warranted But Precluded - August 2013 Considered by Oklahoma to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) Listed as endangered in Illinois since 1991 - Illinois DNR
Identification notes
Image (MPG)
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
Apparently restricted to mesic prairies and associated wetlands in the midwest - NatureServe
Geographic Range
limited dist. in AR, IL, KY, NC, OK - Map - FWS ( Counties )
Seasonal Activity
univoltine in Illinois, with adults on the wing for mid-September through early October - USFS
Diet and Behavior
Diet: only known larvae host is rattlesnakemaster ( Eryngium yuccafolium , Apiaceae) - Range - BONAP a population of 100-1000 rattlesnake master plants needs to be present for P. eryngii to persist - USFS
Life History
Adult borer moths lay their eggs in the vicinity of the plant in the fall where the eggs overwinter in the prairie duff. In the spring, larvae emerge from the eggs and feed on leaves of the rattlesnake-master until they are ready to burrow into the root of the plant. The moth stays in the burrow until late summer when it pupates and adults emerge again in mid-September. Rattlesnake-master borer moths depend on undisturbed prairie that contains their food source, and loss of prairie habitat to other land uses is likely causing populations to decline. - FWS
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: named for its reliance on the rattlesnake-master, a prairie plant which is its only food source.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papaipema eryngii. 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 Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494
What is Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494?
Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 (Papaipema eryngii) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494?
wingspan 35-48 mm (Bird 1917)
How do you identify Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494?
Image (MPG)
Where is Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Apparently restricted to mesic prairies and associated wetlands in the midwest - NatureServe |
| Range | limited dist. in AR, IL, KY, NC, OK - Map - FWS ( Counties ) |
What does Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 eat?
The diet of the Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 includes only known larvae host is rattlesnakemaster ( Eryngium yuccafolium , Apiaceae) - Range - BONAP a population of 100-1000 rattlesnake master plants needs to be present for P. eryngii to persist - USFS.
When is Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494 active?
Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494: seasonal activity - univoltine in Illinois, with adults on the wing for mid-September through early October - USFS.
What is the life cycle of a Rattlesnake-master borer moth - Hodges#9494?
Adult borer moths lay their eggs in the vicinity of the plant in the fall where the eggs overwinter in the prairie duff. In the spring, larvae emerge from the eggs and feed on leaves of the rattlesnake-master until they are ready to burrow into the root of the plant. The moth stays in the burrow until late summer when it pupates and adults emerge again in mid-September. Rattlesnake-master borer moths depend on undisturbed prairie that contains their food source, and loss of prairie habitat to other land uses is likely causing populations to decline. - FWS