Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2
Schinia deserticola
This record describes Schinia deserticola (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pogue description of the adults, including genitalia, is in the PDF. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
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
Geographic Range
Pogue reported the range as "Southern California to southeastern Arizona and north to west central Utah and southeastern Oregon."
Seasonal Activity
Pogue stated "It is single brooded, flying from early March to early May, with a single record from early June. The peak flight period of S. deserticola is earlier than that of S. crotchii ."
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Hardwick reported the larval plant host is Camissonia claviformis (Torr. & Frem.) Raven (Onagraceae).
Life History
Hardwick (1996) described the life cycle. PDF
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia deserticola. 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 deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2
What is Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2?
Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 (Schinia deserticola) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2?
Pogue listed the forewing length of both sexes 10.5-14.5 mm (n=10).
How do you identify Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2?
Pogue description of the adults, including genitalia, is in the PDF. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 found?
Range: Pogue reported the range as Southern California to southeastern Arizona and north to west central Utah and southeastern Oregon.
What does Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 eat?
The diet of the Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 includes Hardwick reported the larval plant host is Camissonia claviformis (Torr. & Frem.) Raven (Onagraceae)..
When is Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2 active?
Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2: seasonal activity - Pogue stated It is single brooded, flying from early March to early May, with a single record from early June. The peak flight period of S. deserticola is earlier than that of S. crotchii ..
What is the life cycle of a Schinia deserticola - Hodges#11134.2?
Hardwick (1996) described the life cycle. PDF