Bug FAQWater-hemlock Borer Moth
Papaipema birdi · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Umbellifer Borer Moth, Umbellifer Borer, Water-hemlock Borer
The umbellifer borer is a moth in the Noctuidae family with a wingspan of about 32 mm. Adults fly from August through October and the larvae bore into the stems of water-hemlock, Angelica and water parsnip.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Papaipema birdi, known as the umbellifer borer, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 32 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs from Quebec west to Alberta and southward to New Jersey.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on water-hemlock (Cicuta maculata), purple angelica (Angelica atropurpurea), and water parsnip (Sium suave).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from August to October. The caterpillars bore into the stems of their host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans late summer to early fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 24 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota.
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 can I see adult umbellifer borer moths?
Adults are on the wing from August through October.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The larvae eat water-hemlock, purple angelica, and water parsnip.
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_birdi
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.