Bug FAQLoosestrife Borer Moth
Papaipema lysimachiae · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Loosestrife Borer
The loosestrife borer moth has a wingspan of about 28 to 35 mm and belongs to the Noctuidae family. Its larvae bore into the stems and roots of the plant Lysimachia quadrifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is a moth in the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan ranges from 28 to 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae bore into the stems and roots of Lysimachia quadrifolia.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from August to October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period is late summer through early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 24 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult loosestrife borer moths active?
Adults are active from August through October.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The larvae bore into the stems and roots of Lysimachia quadrifolia.
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_lysimachiae
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.