Species Papaipema marginidens - Brick-Red Borer Moth - Hodges#9492

9492

First described in 1852 by Achille Guénéé as Gortyna marginidens

marginidens is from Latin margini- "of margin" + dens- "tooth", probably referring the toothed margins of the wings

Mostly scattered through the Appalachians and neighboring areas, from Pennsylvania and New York south to Georgia and North Carolina

A mixture of open oak woodlands and barrens in rocky areas with herbaceous undergrowth- especially along streams. They seem to only be found in areas with healthy and varied communities of native herbaceous plants: overgrazing and seeding with non-native grasses seem to be a major cause of habitat loss.

The larvae feed on herbaceous plants in their preferred habitat. Their preferred food plant is unknown (some sources suggest Water Hemlock, Cicuta maculata), but they've been found on various plants in several plant families.

Not known to migrate, so habitat fragmentation has left them scattered in local pockets of suitable habitat throughout their range, becoming more isolated all the time. As these pockets are lost or rendered uninhabitable to the moths, the species is becoming rarer throughout its range. This moth also tends to be collateral damage in efforts to control Gypsy Moth infestations.

Part of a group of very similar-looking species, along with Papaipema baptisiae and Papaipema birdi, among others.

Moth Photographers Group (MPG)

Barcode of Life (BOLD)

Conservation Assessment for the Brick-Red Borer Moth (Papaipema marginidens (Guenee))    (PDF format, 347 KB)

Histoire naturelle des insectes: species général des lépidoptères, v.5, p.123    Guénéé's original description of the species.