Pitcher Plant Borer Moth
Common NamePitcher Plant Borer Moth
Scientific NameExyra ridingsii
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyErebinae
Wingspan (mm)31.5
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, yellow, cream
HabitatBogs, fens, and wetlands where pitcher plants grow
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Mississippi
Host PlantsSarracenia flava, Sarracenia purpurea, Sarracenia alata
Flight PeriodApril to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae are borers, feeding internally within the pitchers of *Sarracenia* plants, often consuming the plant's insect prey. Pupation occurs inside the pitcher.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive forewing pattern of cream spots on a mottled brown and yellow background, and its strong association with pitcher plant bogs. The fuzzy, reddish head and thorax are also characteristic.
Description
This medium-sized moth has a fuzzy, reddish-brown head and thorax. Its forewings are a mix of yellowish-brown and reddish-brown, adorned with prominent, irregular cream-white spots and blotches, while the hindwings are uniformly dark brown.
