Bug FAQPitcher Plant Borer Moth
Papaipema appassionata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
The moth’s wingspan measures roughly 30 to 41 mm. Its larvae feed on the roots of pitcher plants such as Sarracenia purpurea. It is found across parts of North America, including several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The species uses the roots of Sarracenia pitcher plants as its host.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America, recorded in states such as Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, as well as Canadian provinces New Brunswick, Quebec.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 15 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Maine, New Hampshire, New York.
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
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_appassionata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.