Ottawa (Dunrobin), ON Canada

24 August 2003   9:25PM EDT  (top)
25 August 2003   8:29PM EDT  (bottom left)
11 September 2003   10:26PM EDT  (bottom right)

Papaipema arctivorens is one of more than 15 species of Papaipema known to occur in the Ottawa area.  At our house, the Papaipema are collectively known as the paint-drip moths, because the bright white spots on the wings of many species remind us of drops of white enamel.

The forewing of Papaipema arctivorens is light orange in color, shaded with rusty brown.  The orbicular and claviform spots are large and white, sometimes clearly two spots, and sometimes broken into three white spots.  The reniform spot looks as though it is mostly or entirely outlined by a chain of elongated white or near-white spots surrounding an orange center.  The antemedial, medial and postmedial lines are usually clearly visible.  Beyond the pm line, the subterminal area is darker purplish brown, except for a yellowish apical patch and, in some specimens more than others, a yellowish subterminal line.  The veins of the wing are usually marked with brown, giving the moth a somewhat streaky appearance.  Hindwings are yellowish tan, shaded grayish brown along the outer margin.

The larvae of Papaipema arctivorens bore into the rhizomes of thistle, burdock, teasel and other plants (Covell, 1983).  Handfield (1999) indicates an adult flight season from mid-August to early October in my general area.

I have photographed this species in 2000, on 10 September; in 2001, on 19 and 20 August, and on 20 September; in 2002, on 26 and 31 August, and on 8 and 13 September; in 2003, on 19, 24, 25 and 31 August, and on 1 and 11 September.