Bug FAQRattlesnake-master Borer Moth
Papaipema eryngii · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Eryngium Stem Borer, Rattlesnake Master Borer
Papaipema eryngii is a cutworm or dart moth in the Noctuidae family. It is found in North America. Although other Papaipema species also try to bore into rattlesnake master where their ranges overlap, only P. eryngii can survive the plant’s defensive chemicals.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Papaipema eryngii is a cutworm or dart moth in the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Its range overlaps other Papaipema species that also bore into rattlesnake master, but those larvae cannot survive the plant’s chemicals, unlike P. eryngii.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 6 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, 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
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_eryngii
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.