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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 932473 – 9490   Papaipema nepheleptena (Dyar, 1908)              Turtle Head Borer

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Plantaginaceae[Scrophulariaceae] Verbenaceae.  Host genera: Chelone Verbena.  Notes: borer (Wagner et al 2011).  (Shropshire & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: nepheleptena (Dyar, 1908) (Gortyna) - MONA 1983: 9490 moeseri Bird, 1911 (Papaipema)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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