Phlox moth - Hodges#11095
Schinia indiana
This record describes Schinia indiana (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Kwiat original description as Heliolonche indiana is available online. Adults have crimson forewing with a pale tan to gray fringe (seen only in fresh individuals). Hindwings are black with white fringe. Listed as rare in Minnesota and is on the legally protected State Endangered species list in Wisconsin and Michigan. Few records from Arkansas and Texas.
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
Prairies and sandy open woodlands where the larval food plant Phlox pilosa grows.
Geographic Range
Limited range of Minnesota to Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, with disjunct populations in Arkansas and Texas. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults appear when downy phlox is in bloom during April to July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host is Phlox pilosa (downy phlox). Adults usually found during daylight hours resting on fresh phlox blooms which they resemble in color.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia indiana. 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 Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Phlox moth - Hodges#11095
What is Phlox moth - Hodges#11095?
Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 (Schinia indiana) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Phlox moth - Hodges#11095?
Wingspan 15.5-18 mm.
How do you identify Phlox moth - Hodges#11095?
Kwiat original description as Heliolonche indiana is available online. Adults have crimson forewing with a pale tan to gray fringe (seen only in fresh individuals). Hindwings are black with white fringe.
Where is Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Prairies and sandy open woodlands where the larval food plant Phlox pilosa grows. |
| Range | Limited range of Minnesota to Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, with disjunct populations in Arkansas and Texas. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 eat?
The diet of the Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 includes The larval host is Phlox pilosa (downy phlox). Adults usually found during daylight hours resting on fresh phlox blooms which they resemble in color..
When is Phlox moth - Hodges#11095 active?
Phlox moth - Hodges#11095: seasonal activity - Adults appear when downy phlox is in bloom during April to July..