Papaipema beeriana
Blazing star borer

Photo by David Cuthrell 

Key Characteristics

This moth has a wing-span of 1.2-1.5 inches (3.1-3.6 cm). It has two color forms, both spotted and unspotted. The unspotted form has forewings which are dull brownish, frosted with whitish scale-bases, and with scattered white scales; markings practically absent or very faint. The hind wings are a paler and more uniform gray. The spotted form, lacinariae Bird, has forewings similar to the unspotted form with the exception of white spots.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
  • State Rank: S1S2 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from critically imperiled to imperiled
  • Global Rank: G2G3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Allegan11997
Barry12005
Berrien11989
Calhoun11968
Cass12000
Huron12007
Jackson32008
Livingston52011
Monroe12012
Oakland22008
Otsego21996
St. Clair52012
Van Buren12008
Washtenaw22010
County Distribution Map for [SNAME]

Updated 05/08/2013. Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

The blazing star borer occurs with its larval host plant, blazing star or snakeroot (Liatris spp.) The species has been recorded from a variety of plant communities crossing gradients from wet to dry including lakeplain prairies, prairie fens, and sand prairie or barrens. At known sites associated prairie plants typically include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), common mountain mint (Pycanthemum virginianum), tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris), Ohio goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis), Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum), and switch grass (Panicum virgatum).

Natural Community Types

Management

Almost all major workers on the genus have commented on the fire sensitivity of Papaipema eggs. Use of fire to control the pest species P. nebris. Land managers should always assume high mortality of Papaipema eggs in fall, winter, or spring burn units. To protect Papaipema populations retaining an adequate amount of the foodplant and to divide habitat into smaller burn units is recommended. No Papaipema site should ever be entirely burned in a single year. Foodplants spread over a large area or in several discrete patches reduce the risk from predators and parasitoids as compared to a comparable number of plants in a single dense patch. Most, if not all, of these parasitoids are native species and in most cases they do not need to be controlled. All known sites of beeriana on managed lands should be monitored periodically.

Active Period

Flight from fourth week of July to third week of October

Survey Methods

The best way to survey for this species is by blacklighting, a technique where a sheet is stretched across two trees or poles and an ultraviolet light is used to attract moths to the sheet. Moths can be collected directly from the sheet. Insects come to light usually in largest numbers on still, dark, cloudy nights when both temperature and humidity are high. You also can search for the larvae of many species of Papaipema by searching for signs of feeding activity in late July or early August. Reports of adults or lavae of this species must be documented with a voucher specimen or a good photograph and verification by a species expert.

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/explorer [Accessed May 22, 2013]

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Technical References