Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169
Schinia mitis
This record describes Schinia mitis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is a day flying moth, which is only active for a few hours in the morning, when the flowers of its host plant are open. (a)
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
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on wing from April to June, but there are also records from September and November. (a)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva : display an exclusive preference for Pyrrhopappus , a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family. (b)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Mitis (L) = gentle, mellow
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia mitis. 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 mitis - Hodges#11169 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169
What is Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169?
Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169 (Schinia mitis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
What does Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169 eat?
The diet of the Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169 includes Larva : display an exclusive preference for Pyrrhopappus , a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family. (b).
When is Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169 active?
Schinia mitis - Hodges#11169: seasonal activity - Adults are on wing from April to June, but there are also records from September and November. (a).