It was thrust into the spotlight in September when it was discovered and photographed for the first time at ArcelorMittal Research and Development’s piece of prairie in East Chicago. Named the blazing star borer moth (Papaipema beeriana) it is a rare, prairie dependent moth found in the Midwestern United States.
As its name suggests, the blazing star borer moth can only survive if there are bright pretty purplish blazing star plants for their caterpillars to eat, and the ArcelorMittal prairie has two different species this rare moth can use, the rough and the marsh blazing star.