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Species Papaipema inquaesita - Sensitive Fern Borer - Hodges#9483

Papaipema inquaesita 9483 - Papaipema inquaesita Sensitive Fern Borer  - Papaipema inquaesita Papaipema inquaesita Sensitive Fern Borer Moth - Papaipema inquaesita Papaipema inquaesita Sensitive Fern Borer - Papaipema inquaesita Sensitive Fern Borer? - Papaipema inquaesita Papaipema inquaesita
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
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 inquaesita (Sensitive Fern Borer - Hodges#9483)
Hodges Number
9483
Numbers
may be locally common
Size
wingspan 29-40 mm
Identification
Adult: forewing orange with dull orangish-brown shading beyond PM line except at apex, and sharply-angled median band (a distinctive feature); veins outlined with dark purplish-brown; spots inconspicuous, orange or whitish; PM line double, angled near middle, fairly smooth; hindwing yellowish with grayish-brown veins and shading
[adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Range
Nova Scotia to Georgia, west to Louisiana, north to Wisconsin and Ontario
Habitat
damp woodlands containing hostplant; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from August to October
Food
larvae feed on Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)
Life Cycle
one generation per year
Internet References
pinned adult image plus photos of related species by Jim Wiker (Moth Photographers Group)
pinned adult image (James Adams, Dalton State College, Georgia)
adult images and dates (Larry Line, Maryland)
foodplant plus classification history, type localities, references (Markku Savela, FUNET)
common name reference plus foodplant and flight season (Ohio State U.)
presence in Georgia and Wisconsin locations and dates (Lepidopterists Society Season Summary, U. of Florida)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)