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Species Papaipema rigida - Rigid Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9503

Noctuidae: Papaipema rigida - Papaipema rigida

Rigid Sunflower Borer - Papaipema rigida

Papaipema, Golden Alexanders, 1st sign - Papaipema rigida

9503 – Papaipema rigida – Rigid Sunflower Borer Moth - Papaipema rigida

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Subfamily Noctuinae (Cutworm or Dart Moths)

Tribe Apameini

Genus Papaipema (Borer Moths)

Species rigida (Rigid Sunflower Borer - Hodges#9503)

Hodges Number

9503

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

described in 1877 by Grote, who originally placed it in genus Gortyna

Size

wingspan about 28-29 mm, based on two Internet photos

Identification

Adult: forewing light yellow with almost straight PM line and purplish-brown shading beyond it except for pale apical patch; reniform, orbicular, and claviform spots all filled with ground color, not white; AM line W-shaped, with darker shading in basal area; fringe dark; hindwing off-white to pale yellowish with dark discal spot, veins, and terminal line

Range

New Brunswick to Pennsylvania, west to Iowa and Manitoba; type specimens collected in Pennsylvania and Illinois

Habitat

meadows where foodplant grows; adults are nocturnal and come to light

Season

adults fly from June to October

Food

larvae feed on Stiff Sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus [=rigidus]), Smooth Oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides), and Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

Life Cycle

Larva in root; larva; pupa; adult