Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Noctuidae Members:	Papaipema Members:	27 NC Records

Papaipema arctivorens Hampson, 1910 - Northern Burdock Borer Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Noctuidae

Subfamily:
Noctuinae

Tribe:
Apameini

P3 Number:
932492

MONA Number:
9471.00

Comments: One of 44 species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Lafontaine and Schmidt, 2010, 2015), 30 of which have been recorded in North Carolina

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: Based on Forbe's (1954) key, the ground color of the forewings is tawny orange and dusted with dark red; the subterminal area is more solidly dark red. The basal area is concolorous with the ground color in the median area but the spots are cream or white and contrast with the ground color. The outer lunule of the reniform is yellow but the other dots are white, including the lower anterior corner. The postmedian is bent and located far towards the margin, with the lower 3/5s nearly straight. Papaipema baptisiae is similar but the postmedian is located farther towards the outer margin.

Wingspan: 32-44 mm

Adult Structural Features: This species is smaller than the other species with similar color and pattern, i.e., rutila, baptisiae, and eryngii; size estimates should be included as part of the record

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records all come from the Mountains except for one record from a high monadnock with montane-like flora and fauna. Most appear to come from fairly open, herb-dominated habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on species in the Asteraceae, including burdocks (Arctium) and thistles (Cirsium) (Wagner et al., 2011). - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for Montane Forblands and Successional Fields

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Papaipema arctivorens - Northern Burdock Borer Moth

Photos: 11

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-27 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-08-12 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Tony McBride on 2023-07-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-08-15 Avery Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-09-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-04 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-04 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-28 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-28 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-14 Madison Co. Comment: Forewing length = 12 mm.