Pitcher Plant Borer Moth

Transcription

1 Pitcher Plant Borer Moth Pitcher Plant Borer Moth Scientific Name Family Name Papaipema appassionata (Harvey, 1876) Noctuidae Owlet Moths Did you know? Larvae of borer moths in the genus Papaipema, such as the pitcher plant borer moth, can tunnel more than a foot into their host plant (Wagner et al. 2008). Photo credits: Vernon Antoine Brou Jr. Summary Protection Not listed in New York State, not listed federally. Rarity G4, SU This level of state protection means: The species is not listed or protected by New York State. A global rarity rank of G4 means: Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. A state rarity rank of SU means: Unrankable. Conservation Status in New York Two populations of the pitcher plant borer moth are documented, one in a fen in Oswego County and one in a fen in Suffolk County. Each was documented in the late 1980s-early 1990s and has not been surveyed since. The habitat for this species is patchily distributed; the moth occurs only in wetlands such as bogs and fens that contain pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.). Additional surveys are needed to better understand the status and distribution of this moth in New York State. Short-term Trends The short-term trend for the pitcher plant borer moth in New York State is unknown. The two documented populations were each surveyed once in the late 1980s-early 1990s and not since. One individual was captured at each site. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Pitcher Plant Borer Moth (Papaipema appassionata)

2 Long-term Trends The long-term trend for the pitcher plant borer moth in New York State is unknown. Conservation and Management Threats Altered hydrology in occupied wetlands could destroy pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.), the larval foodplants. Any insecticide spraying in occupied wetlands during the pitcher plant borer moth's flight season, late August-September (Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008), might be a threat. It appears that moths in the genus Papaipema are only able to tolerate small environmental changes (Wagner et al. 2008). Changes in environmental conditions due to climate change might be an additional threat. Conservation Strategies and Management Practices Occupied wetlands should be evaluated to minimize encroachment and fragmentation by development, since surrounding natural areas serve as buffers that reduce the impact of sediments, nutrients, and pollutants in runoff entering wetlands. In addition, in occupied areas, the following practices would be beneficial: 1) maintaining the natural hydrology, 2) restricting insecticide spraying, particularly during the pitcher plant borer moth's flight season (late August-September, Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008), and 3) conducting forestry practices in the vicinity of occupied wetlands in a way that minimizes negative impacts to occupied wetlands. Habitat The pitcher plant borer moth occurs only in wetlands such as bogs and fens that contain pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.), the larval foodplants (Covell 1984). Associated Ecological Communities Coastal Plain Poor Fen A wetland on the coastal plain fed by somewhat mineral-rich groundwater and slow decomposition rates of plant materials in the wetland (and thus develops peat). Plants are generally growing in peat composed primarily of Sphagnum mosses with some grass-like and woody components. Inland Poor Fen A wetland fed by acidic water from springs and seeps. Plant remains in these fens do not decompose rapidly and thus the plants in these fens usually grow on older, undecomposed plant parts of mostly sphagnum mosses. Identification Comments NYNHP Conservation Guide - Pitcher Plant Borer Moth (Papaipema appassionata) 2

3 Identifying Characteristics The pitcher plant borer moth is mostly reddish brown, straw yellow, and white. The top of the head and thorax is reddish brown, as is the base and outer third of the forewing. The rear half of the center of the forewing is straw yellow and marked with reddish-brown lines. The orbicular and reniform spots are very large and white and are also marked with fine reddish-brown lines. The hind wing has a pale yellow tinge with a light sprinkling of reddish-brown scales toward the outer margin (Covell 1984; Brou 2005). The wingspan is approximately mm (Covell 1984). Frass of larvae is orange (Hessel 1954; Wagner et al. 2008). The early instars (stages) of many larvae in the genus Papaipema are colorful, with rings or whitish stripes on a maroon, pink, purple, or brown body. Later instars become whiter (Wagner et al. 2008). The species is most easily identified as an adult moth (Wagner et al. 2008; NatureServe 2010), and its identification should be confirmed by an expert if based on a photograph or sign other than an adult specimen (NatureServe 2010). Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species Behavior Diet The adult is the best life stage for identification (Wagner et al. 2008; NatureServe 2010). In the Northeast, pitcher plant borer moths fly from late August-September (Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008). In New York State, they have been documented to fly in mid-september. Typically, they tend to fly within 10 m of pitcher plant patches (NatureServe 2010). However, although they usually do not fly far from pitcher plant patches, females seem to disperse more than males, particularly after laying their eggs. Females have been documented more than 2 km from suitable larval habitat containing pitcher plants (NatureServe 2010). Females lay their eggs on and near pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.), the larval host plants (Wagner et al. 2008). Larvae burrow into the roots of pitcher plants and push orange frass out of the tunnel where it collects around and beneath the tunnel entrance. Larvae pupate in the tunnel or in soil near the host plant and emerge as adults late the next season (Wagner et al. 2008). The larvae bore in the roots of pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.) (Wagner et al. 2008). The Best Time to See The best time to see the pitcher plant borer moth is during its flight season. In the Northeast, the moths generally fly from late August-September and sometimes into October (Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008). In New York State, the moth has been documented to fly in mid-september. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Pitcher Plant Borer Moth (Papaipema appassionata) 3

4 Present Reproducing Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec The time of year you would expect to find Pitcher Plant Borer Moth in New York. Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Animalia Mandibulates (Mandibulata) Order Insects (Insecta) Family Butterflies, Skippers, and Moths (Lepidoptera) Noctuidae (Owlet Moths) Additional Resources Links Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America ent%20june% pdf BugGuide South. Lepid. News onata%20harvey%20in%20louisiana.%20so.%20.pdf Moth Photographers Group Google Images NatureServe Explorer ONATA References Brou Jr., Vernon A Papaipema appassionata Harvey in Louisiana. South. Lepid. News 27:10. Covell, Charles V A field guide to the moths of eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Hessel, Sidney, A A guide to collecting the plant-boring larvae of the genus Papaipema (Noctuidae). Lepid. News. 8: pp Note a corrected version is included as Appendix D of the Lepidopterists' Society's basic techniques manual (Winter, 2000). Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S. NYNHP Conservation Guide - Pitcher Plant Borer Moth (Papaipema appassionata) 4

5 Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery, and map unit tables. NatureServe NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA NatureServe NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available (Data last updated August 2010) North American Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum. No date. Mississippi State University, Mississippi. Wagner, D. L., D. F. Schweitzer, J. B. Sullivan, and R. C. Reardon Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America (Lepidoptera: Noctudiae) New York Natural Heritage Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY Phone: (518) This project is made possible with funding from: - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program - Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Information for this guide was last updated on Aug 10, 2017 This guide was authored by Andrea Chaloux NYNHP Conservation Guide - Pitcher Plant Borer Moth (Papaipema appassionata) 5