Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1
Schinia acutilinea
This record describes Schinia acutilinea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: dimorphic - common form is pinkish-brown or greenish-brown and white; forewing has large dark diamond-shaped basal patch, a similarly-colored triangular patch along costa near apex, and oblong patch below that between PM and ST lines; median and terminal areas paler brown, separated from dark areas by white scales; reniform spot a large blurry gray patch; lower half of AM line has slight indentation or notch; fringe checkered; hindwing white with broad brownish terminal band and large dark discal spot; sexes similar but female slightly darker; less common form is completely creamy white, sometimes having a few dark scales where the normal pattern would be
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Heliothinae
- Genus
- Schinia (Flower Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Sagebrush grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Western North America: British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico and Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from mid-August to mid-October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on buds, flowers, and developing seeds of Big Sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ), Silver Sagebrush ( A. cana ), Black Sagebrush ( A. nova )
Life History
One generation per year; eggs are laid on flower buds of hostplant
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia acutilinea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Ron M. , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1
What is Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1?
Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 (Schinia acutilinea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1?
Forewing length 10-13 mm.
How do you identify Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1?
Adult: dimorphic - common form is pinkish-brown or greenish-brown and white; forewing has large dark diamond-shaped basal patch, a similarly-colored triangular patch along costa near apex, and oblong patch below that between PM and ST lines; median and terminal areas paler brown, separated from dark areas by white scales; reniform spot a large blurry gray patch; lower half of AM line has slight indentation or notch; fringe checkered; hindwing white with broad brownish terminal band and large dark discal spot; sexes similar but female slightly darker; less common form is completely creamy white, sometimes having a few dark scales where the normal pattern would be
Where is Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sagebrush grasslands; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Western North America: British Columbia to California, east to New Mexico and Saskatchewan |
What does Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 eat?
The diet of the Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 includes larvae feed on buds, flowers, and developing seeds of Big Sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ), Silver Sagebrush ( A. cana ), Black Sagebrush ( A. nova ).
When is Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1 active?
Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1: seasonal activity - Adults fly from mid-August to mid-October..
What is the life cycle of a Acute-lined Flower Moth - Hodges#11150.1?
One generation per year; eggs are laid on flower buds of hostplant