Abstract: A previously unknown pest infesting tobacco seedlings was discovered in a tobacco seedling shed in Moping Town, Zigui County, Yidu City, Hubei Province. To determine its occurrence pattern and taxonomic identity, field surveys were carried out to assess larval damage and adult emergence dynamics. The pest was classified based on the morphological characteristics of the adults, pupae, and larvae. The results showed that the larvae concealed themselves in the soil or seedling substrate during the day and emerged at night to feed on the leaves of tobacco seedlings, creating notches. In severe cases, entire leaves were consumed, leading to the progressive death of seedlings. Adult emergence began on May 2 and peaked on May 9. Adults exhibited three irregular dark gray spots on their wings: two on the cubitus (Cu) and one within the r cell. The pupal body was uniformly light yellow-brown with slightly darker tarsal and wing sheaths. The thoracic dorsum bore two pairs of prominent lobes, the terminal segment featured six pairs of spines, and the respiratory organs were almost similar in length. Larvae were nearly cylindrical and tapered at both ends. They were dark grey with lighter lateral regions and bore transverse tufts of setae on the dorsal surface of the three thoracic segments. Based on its occurrence pattern and morphological characteristics, the pest was identified as Tipula shirakii, a newly recorded pest of tobacco seedlings in Hubei Province.