Bug FAQBurdock Borer Moth
Papaipema cataphracta · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Burdock Stem Borer Moth, burdock borer
Papaipeda cataphracta, known as the burdock borer, is a moth in the Noctuidae family. It has a wingspan of about 3 to 4.5 cm and flies from late summer into autumn across eastern Canada and the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
This species is called the burdock borer and belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan ranges from 29 to 45 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs from Quebec and Maine down to Florida, west to Louisiana, and north to Saskatchewan.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae bore into the roots and stems of plants such as burdock, lilies, and thistles.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from August through October, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The moth is active in late summer to early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see the burdock borer?
Adults fly from August to October, varying by region.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The caterpillars eat burdock, lilies, and thistles, boring into their roots and stems.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papaipema_cataphracta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.