Butterflies and Moths of North America

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Vernonia Borer Moth
Papaipema limpida (Guenée, 1852)


Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Noctuinae
Identification: Forewing dark brownish-gray with a line of 3 white spots in AM area and a cluster of white spots representing the reniform spot (in each case, the central spot is usually pale yellowish); PM line fairly smooth, gently curving near costa, straighter and paler near inner margin; no pale spots at base of wing; area beyond PM line slightly more grayish than remainder of wing; hindwing dirty white to pale brownish-gray, much paler than forewing
Wing Span: 3.1 cm
Life History:
Flight: Late August to October
Caterpillar Hosts: Larvae have been reported to feed within stems of burdock (Arctium spp.) and Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
Adult Food:
Habitat: Weedy areas where larval foodplant grows
Range: eastern United States: Oklahoma to North Carolina, north to Illinois and Michigan
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Taxonomy Notes: None.