Papaipema stenocelis (Dyar, 1907)
Chain Fern Borer Moth
NatureServe Global Rank: G4
Virginia State Rank: S1S3
VA DGIF Tier: None
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The forewing is orange, with brown and violet shading. There is a brown median line which is slightly bent; pm. line double, rounded. All three spots are white, forming narrow vertical bars; orbicular and claviform spots nearly fused. The hindwing is yellow with grayish brown veins and outer shading. The size ranges from 35-40 mm.
Similar species: Papaipema speciosissima (Osmunda Borer Moth) is larger and has a slightly angled median line.
North American Range: Massachusetts to northern Florida, and west along the Gulf Coast to Louisiana.
VA Observations by Locality: No Known Recorded Observations
Flight season and broods: Eggs overwinter. Prepupal larvae usually aestivate, probably for more than a month. On rare occasions, larvae skip the prepupal aestivation and may pupate and produce adults as early as late July or August. Adults fly August and September.
Habitat and Food Plants: Rhizomes of Woodwardia virginica (Virginia Chain Fern) . Habitat is coastal plain swamps, bogs, swales, wet pinelands, vernal ponds, and other depressions, even ditches.
Behavior and Ecology: Adults come to lights about 2-3 hours after it gets dark, but only for approximately 45 minutes.
Population trend and potential threats: Presently unknown
Management practices: Presently unknown
References: Covell, Charles V. Covell, Jr.; A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America; Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. P. 125-126.
Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University. Web application at: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/large_map.php?hodges=9481 Accessed: 19Apr2013
NatureServe. 2012. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: September 19, 2012 ).