Thistle Stem Borer Moth
Common NameThistle Stem Borer Moth
Scientific NamePapaipema scudderi
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, white
HabitatWetlands, bogs, fens, and other areas with thistles
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba and south to New Jersey and Illinois
Host PlantsCanada Thistle (Cirsium arvense), other thistles
Flight PeriodAugust to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are stem borers, feeding inside the stems of thistles, causing wilting. They pupate within the stem or in the soil, with adults emerging in late summer and fall.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled reddish-brown forewings with prominent white spots, particularly the reniform and orbicular spots. Its association with thistle plants in wetland habitats is also a strong indicator.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with mottled reddish-brown to orange-brown forewings, featuring prominent white reniform and orbicular spots.
