Bug FAQIronweed Borer
Papaipema cerussata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Ironweed Borer Moth, Ironweed Stem Borer Moth
Papaipema cerussata is a moth in the Noctuidae family. It lives in the eastern United States, recorded from many states including Georgia, Maine and New York. The caterpillars feed on the plant Vernonia noveboracensis.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Papaipema cerussata is known as the ironweed borer moth and belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in eastern North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on the plant Vernonia noveboracensis.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 20 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Connecticut, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee.
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
Where is Papaipema cerussata found?
It occurs in eastern North America, especially many eastern U.S. states.
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_cerussata
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.