Summary

Did you know?

Most species in the genus Papaipema seem to have declined since the 1970s, except a few. Exceptions include the Chain Fern Borer Moth, others whose larvae feed on ferns, and the Flypoison Borer Moth. This fact strongly indicates that the overabundance of deer in recent decades has contributed to the decline of most Papaipema species. This is because deer severely browse the larval foodplants of most Papaipema species, but deer generally do not severely browse ferns or the flypoison plant, which are the larval foodplants of the species not known to have declined (NatureServe 2010).

State Ranking Justification

One population of the chain fern borer moth is documented. The population has not been surveyed since 1987, when one individual was captured. Potential habitat (wetlands that contain sizeable stands of Virginia chain fern, the larval foodplant) exists throughout much of New York State. However, in parts of the state, its distribution is very limited (Weldy and Werier 2010). The Chain Fern Borer Moth is known to be confined to certain areas throughout its range (D. Schweitzer, personal communication). In general, species in the genus Papaipema tend to not occupy many apparently suitable habitats, for unknown reasons. Some, many, or all habitats for the Chain Fern Borer Moth may be suitable only in certain years, depending on water levels. Also, in any given area, some habitat patches may be occupied in some seasons, and others in other seasons (NatureServe 2010). 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 chain fern borer moth in New York State is unknown. The one documented population was surveyed once in 1987 and not since. One individual was captured at the site. The larval foodplant, Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica), appeared to be in decline at the site.

Long-term Trends

The long-term trend for the chain fern borer moth in New York State is unknown. Some habitat has probably been lost, but the original range and abundance are unknown.

Conservation and Management

Threats

In general, anything that kills or stunts the larval foodplant, Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica), is a threat. The most obvious threat is habitat loss. In addition, hydrological alterations in occupied wetlands could destroy the ferns. Herbicide use along transportation and utility corridors could damage Woodwardia virginica in nearby occupied wetlands. The spread of invasive plants might be a threat. Mosquito spraying may be a threat, as well. Where this species is occupying multiple small habitat patches as a metapopulation, artificial lights (including bug zappers) operating in the early fall could disrupt necessary movements between these patches (Eisenbeis 2006; Frank 2006). This could cause fern patches where a local colony dies out to remain unoccupied, and this could eventually eliminate the entire population.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

Occupied wetlands should be evaluated to minimize encroachment and fragmentation by development. This is because 1) several species in the genus Papaipema tend to not occupy small habitat patches and 2) surrounding natural areas serve as buffers that reduce the impact of sediments, nutrients, and pollutants entering wetlands in stormwater runoff. A general recommendation for species in the genus Papaipema is that five to ten hectares of habitat should be conserved at a site in order to safeguard a population against assumed events, human disturbance, or intense localized predation in some places in some years, which tends to vary from season to season. For species that are not prone to severe disturbances, such as the Chain Fern Borer Moth [which is relatively less prone to deer herbivory of its larval foodplant, Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica)], smaller habitats that contain dense stands of the foodplant can support viable populations (NatureServe 2010). In occupied areas, the following practices would be beneficial: 1) maintaining the natural hydrology, 2) restricting herbicide and insecticide spraying, and 3) conducting forestry practices, and transportation and utility corridor maintenance practices, in a way that minimizes negative impacts to occupied wetlands. In areas where artificial lighting is necessary, using sodium lights or other low ultraviolet lamps would be beneficial. Controlling invasive plants that threaten Woodwardia virginica would be beneficial. Monitoring deer herbivory in more upland habitats may also be beneficial. Although deer generally do not severely impact ferns, they sometimes do eat the young fronds in May. If they eat a lot of the fronds in the spring, they might be significant predators on young larvae.

Habitat

Habitat

The chain fern borer moth occurs in wetlands such as acid bogs, fens, swamps, edges of ponds, wet thickets, and swales (Weldy and Werier 2010) that contain persistent, abundant or numerous, patches of Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica), the larval foodplant (Hessel 1954; Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008). In general, species in the genus Papaipema tend to not occupy many apparently suitable habitats, for unknown reasons. Some, many, or all habitats for the Chain Fern Borer Moth may be suitable only in certain years, depending on water levels. Also, in any given area, some habitat patches may be occupied in some seasons, and others in other seasons (NatureServe 2010). In New York State, the moth was documented to occupy a swale containing a nearly pure, dense stand of Woodwardia virginica.

Associated Ecological Communities

• Coastal plain poor fen* (guide)
  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 Atlantic white cedar swamp* (guide)
  A swamp that occurs on organic soils (usually peat) in poorly drained depressions and along pond edges in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey. The characteristic tree is Atlantic white cedar. In mixed stands the codominants are typically red maple, black gum, and eastern hemlock.
• Inland poor fen* (guide)
  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.

* probable association but not confirmed.

Range

New York State Distribution

The chain fern borer moth is documented from Suffolk County, Long Island.

Global Distribution

The chain fern borer moth is distributed in eastern North America in the coastal states from Massachusetts to southern Florida. It is possible there are some gaps. Its distribution does not extend inland.

Identification Comments

Identifying Characteristics

The chain fern borer moth has orange forewings that include some brown and purple shading. The brown median line is slightly bent. The postmedial line is double and slightly rounded. The most distinctive feature is that all three spots on the forewings are white, and they form narrow vertical bars. The orbicular and claviform spots are almost joined. The hind wings are yellow with grayish-brown veins, and the outer portions are shaded. The wingspan is 35-40 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 Proper Identification

The adult is the best life stage for identification (Wagner et al. 2008; NatureServe 2010).

Behavior

Chain fern borer moths fly from late August-early October (Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008). In New York State, they have been documented to fly in early October. Typically, they tend to fly within 10 m of Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica) patches. However, although they usually do not fly far from Woodwardia virginica 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 Woodwardia virginica (NatureServe 2010). Females lay their eggs on and near Woodwardia virginica, the larval host plant (Wagner et al. 2008). Larvae burrow from the tips of stems (early) to the roots of Woodwardia virginica. They push orange frass out of the tunnel, where it collects around and beneath the tunnel entrance. Larvae pupate in the soil near the host plant and emerge as adults late the next season (Wagner et al. 2008).

Diet

The larvae bore in the lower stems and later roots of the Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica) (Hessel 1954; Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008).

Best Time to See

The best time to see the chain fern borer moth is during its flight season, generally from late August-early October (Covell 1984; Wagner et al. 2008). In New York State, the moth has been documented to fly in early October.

Chain Fern Borer Moth Images

Chain Fern Borer Moth
Jim Wiker

Previous Next

Taxonomy

Chain Fern Borer Moth
Papaipema stenocelis (Dyar, 1907)

• Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Arthropoda (Mandibulates)
    • Class Insecta (Insects)
      • Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies, Skippers, and Moths)
        • Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Additional Resources

References

Covell, Charles V. 1984. A field guide to the moths of eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Eisenbeis, Gerhard. 2006. Artifical night lighting and insects: attraction of insects to streetlights in a rural setting in Germany. Pp. 281-304 in Rich, Catherine and Longcore, Travis (eds.) Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting. Island Press, Washington, covelo, London. 458 pp.

Frank, Kenneth. 2006. Effects of artifical night lighting on moths. Pp. 305-344 in Rich, C. and Longcore, T. (editors.) Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting. Island Press, Washington, covelo, London. 458 pp.

Hessel, Sidney, A. 1954. A guide to collecting the plant-boring larvae of the genus Papaipema (Noctuidae). Lepid. News. 8: pp. 57-63. Note a corrected version is included as Appendix D of the Lepidopterists' Society's basic techniques manual (Winter, 2000).

NatureServe. 2010. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Data last updated August 2010)

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2023. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.

North American Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum. No date. Mississippi State University, Mississippi. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/MainMenu.shtml

Wagner, D. L., D. F. Schweitzer, J. B. Sullivan, and R. C. Reardon. 2008. Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America (Lepidoptera: Noctudiae)

Weldy, T. and D. Werier. 2010. New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research http://www.fccdr.usf.edu/. University of South Florida http://www.usf.edu/]. New York Flora Association http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/, Albany, New York

Links

• BugGuide
• Google Images
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServer Explorer
• Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America

About This Guide

This guide was authored by: Andrea Chaloux

Information for this guide was last updated on: February 8, 2012

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2023. Online Conservation Guide for Papaipema stenocelis. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/chain-fern-borer-moth/. Accessed December 3, 2023.