Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199
Schinia chrysellus
This record describes Schinia chrysellus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
females can be found at dusk aound the blooming hostplant Amphiachyris dracunculoides
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
disturbed pastures and eroded prairies
Geographic Range
southern Nebraska to southeastern Colorado, southeastern New Mexico, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico. Other scattered records from Wisconsin, central Illinois, Kentucky, and western Missouri, Arkansas to southeastern Louisiana.
Seasonal Activity
adults fly August to September when the host plant blooms. *mid October Texas record on Bug Guide.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is prairie broomweed, Amphiachyris dracunculoides
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Greek chrysos (χρυσος)- "gold" + Latin diminutive ending -ella: "Little golden one"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia chrysellus. 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 Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Chris Grinter
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199
What is Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199?
Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 (Schinia chrysellus) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199?
forewing length: male 9.56-12.56 mm female 11.2-12.83 mm
Where is Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | disturbed pastures and eroded prairies |
| Range | southern Nebraska to southeastern Colorado, southeastern New Mexico, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico. Other scattered records from Wisconsin, central Illinois, Kentucky, and western Missouri, Arkansas to southeastern Louisiana. |
What does Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 eat?
The diet of the Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 includes Larval host is prairie broomweed, Amphiachyris dracunculoides.
When is Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199 active?
Schinia chrysellus - Hodges#11199: seasonal activity - adults fly August to September when the host plant blooms. *mid October Texas record on Bug Guide..