Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135
Schinia rivulosa
This record describes Schinia rivulosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing blackish-gray in basal area and beyond PM line, and lighter gray in median area; AM and PM lines white, conspicuous; AM line arc-shaped, and PM line deeply curved; ST line straight, white, faint or sometimes absent; hindwing unmarked, brownish-yellow at base, shading to brownish-gray at outer margin
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
fields, waste places where foodplants grow; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Geographic Range
Quebec to Florida , west to Arizona, north to Oregon and North Dakota
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from July to October
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on ragweed ( Ambrosia spp.)
Life History
one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia rivulosa. 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 Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135
What is Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135?
Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 (Schinia rivulosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135?
Wingspan 25-31 mm
How do you identify Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135?
Adult: forewing blackish-gray in basal area and beyond PM line, and lighter gray in median area; AM and PM lines white, conspicuous; AM line arc-shaped, and PM line deeply curved; ST line straight, white, faint or sometimes absent; hindwing unmarked, brownish-yellow at base, shading to brownish-gray at outer margin
Where is Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | fields, waste places where foodplants grow; adults are nocturnal and come to light |
| Range | Quebec to Florida , west to Arizona, north to Oregon and North Dakota |
What does Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 eat?
The diet of the Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 includes larvae feed on ragweed ( Ambrosia spp.).
When is Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135 active?
Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135: seasonal activity - adults fly from July to October.
What is the life cycle of a Ragweed Flower Moth - Hodges#11135?
one generation per year