Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500
Papaipema maritima
This record describes Papaipema maritima (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Mesic and wet-mesic prairies.
Geographic Range
Coastal Atlantic states and disjunct populations in the Midwest.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from late-September through October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is giant sunflower, Helianthus giganteus
Life History
Larvae bore into sunflower stems and form stem galls.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papaipema maritima. 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 Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500
How big is Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500?
Wingspan is 30-40 mm.
Where is Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mesic and wet-mesic prairies. |
| Range | Coastal Atlantic states and disjunct populations in the Midwest. |
What does Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500 eat?
The diet of the Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500 includes Larval host is giant sunflower, Helianthus giganteus.
When is Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500 active?
Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500: seasonal activity - Adults fly from late-September through October..
What is the life cycle of a Maritime Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9500?
Larvae bore into sunflower stems and form stem galls.