Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203
Schinia luxa
This record describes Schinia luxa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing pale yellow with several dark dots in specific locations: one serves as the orbicular spot, another serves as the midpoint of the otherwise invisible AM line, and two more are spaced apart along the otherwise invisible PM line; reniform spot represented by a faint chevron; no visible subterminal line; terminal line composed of a series of dark dots; hindwing white. Figured by W. J. Holland.
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
Desert scrub.
Geographic Range
Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as far east as Big Bend National Park.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on blazingstar ( Mentzelia ) in the wild and readily take snap peas in captivity.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia luxa. 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 luxa - Hodges#11203 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203
What is Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203?
Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203 (Schinia luxa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203?
Wingspan 30 mm (Grote, 1881).
How do you identify Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203?
Adult - forewing pale yellow with several dark dots in specific locations: one serves as the orbicular spot, another serves as the midpoint of the otherwise invisible AM line, and two more are spaced apart along the otherwise invisible PM line; reniform spot represented by a faint chevron; no visible subterminal line; terminal line composed of a series of dark dots; hindwing white. Figured by W. J. Holland.
Where is Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Desert scrub. |
| Range | Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as far east as Big Bend National Park. |
What does Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203 eat?
The diet of the Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203 includes Larvae feed on blazingstar ( Mentzelia ) in the wild and readily take snap peas in captivity..
When is Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203 active?
Schinia luxa - Hodges#11203: seasonal activity - Adults fly in August and September..