Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131
Schinia mortua
This record describes Schinia mortua (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Determined by Chuck Harp. Schinia mortua appears to be widespread in western North America but uncommon.
Identification notes
Determined by Chuck Harp.
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
Wisconsin to Texas and westward. Holotype collected in "Colorado Territory" by James Ridings. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be May to September with the peak in August.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia mortua. 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 mortua - Hodges#11131 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131
What is Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131?
Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131 (Schinia mortua) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131?
Wingspan averages 23-28 mm. Grote (1864) reported the wingspan of the type specimen 1.1 inch (27.94 mm.)
How do you identify Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131?
Determined by Chuck Harp.
Where is Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131 found?
Range: Wisconsin to Texas and westward. Holotype collected in Colorado Territory by James Ridings. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
When is Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131 active?
Schinia mortua - Hodges#11131: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be May to September with the peak in August..