Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197
Schinia oculata
This record describes Schinia oculata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smith is available in PDF or view online. Specimen identified 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
Southern California ( 4 ) to western Texas. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is Baccharis sarothroides (Desert Broom).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Oculta is Latin meaning "eyed". [Randy Hardy]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia oculata. 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 oculata - Hodges#11197 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197
What is Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197?
Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197 (Schinia oculata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197?
Hampson listed a wingspan of 28 mm. Smith listed a wingspan of 23 mm.
How do you identify Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197?
Smith is available in PDF or view online. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197 found?
Range: Southern California ( 4 ) to western Texas. ( 5 )
What does Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197 eat?
The diet of the Schinia oculata - Hodges#11197 includes Larval host is Baccharis sarothroides (Desert Broom)..