Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179
Schinia tertia
This record describes Schinia tertia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing gray with broad white medial band but narrower than in S. albafascia ; reniform spot dark gray to blackish; subterminal line white, jagged, irregular; fringe checkered; hindwing white basally; discal spot pale gray, faint or absent; terminal band pale gray, narrow or absent. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). The image labelled S. tertia by Paul Opler on the butterfliesandmoths.org site is presumably S. albafascia due to its wider white medial band on the forewing, and the large dark discal spot on the hindwing (see PDF doc in Internet References)
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
western United States: Minnesota and Illinois to Texas, west to California, north to Idaho
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to October (2 broods)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae probably feed on Dotted Blazingstar ( Liatris punctata ) in the eastern portion of the range
Life History
probably two generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia tertia. 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 tertia - Hodges#11179 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179
What is Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179?
Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179 (Schinia tertia) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179?
wingspan about 25 mm
How do you identify Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179?
Adult: forewing gray with broad white medial band but narrower than in S. albafascia ; reniform spot dark gray to blackish; subterminal line white, jagged, irregular; fringe checkered; hindwing white basally; discal spot pale gray, faint or absent; terminal band pale gray, narrow or absent. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179 found?
Range: western United States: Minnesota and Illinois to Texas, west to California, north to Idaho
What does Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179 eat?
The diet of the Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179 includes larvae probably feed on Dotted Blazingstar ( Liatris punctata ) in the eastern portion of the range.
When is Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179 active?
Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to October (2 broods).
What is the life cycle of a Schinia tertia - Hodges#11179?
probably two generations per year