Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141
Schinia thoreaui
This record describes Schinia thoreaui (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Thorax | Light or dark brown, very heavily scaled or hairy. Wings: Base and lower area of wings dark brown. Center of wing more grayish or lighter brown; areas very faintly outlined with white. Both dark areas curved, base and lower curve opposite each other. Wing tip border is grayish or lighter brown. |
| Legs | Pale tan. The front shin (tibiae) is hairy and has an obvious series of long black spines in a semi-circular pattern at tip of shin. Types: Holotype as Anthoecia thoreaui by Grote & Robinson, 1870. Type Locality: Atlantic District of U.S.A. In the British National Museum of Natural History, London, England. |
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 edges and meadows.
Geographic Range
Mostly southeastern half of U.S.; Ontario, Canada.
Seasonal Activity
Late June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Life History
Females lay large eggs in flower heads of Ragweed. Larvae feed on flowers and developing seeds at night, hiding through the day on lower, usually dead leaves. Pupate below soil surface in early fall (Hardwick 1966). One generation per year. Larva have large heads; green with black spots, When mature, they are entirely brownish-grey, no spots.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Schinia thoreaui. 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 Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by lee_penner , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141
What is Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141?
Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 (Schinia thoreaui) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141?
16 to 19 mm long. Wingspan 29 to 37 mm. Our largest Schinia
How do you identify Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Thorax | Light or dark brown, very heavily scaled or hairy. Wings: Base and lower area of wings dark brown. Center of wing more grayish or lighter brown; areas very faintly outlined with white. Both dark areas curved, base and lower curve opposite each other. Wing tip border is grayish or lighter brown. |
| Legs | Pale tan. The front shin (tibiae) is hairy and has an obvious series of long black spines in a semi-circular pattern at tip of shin. |
Where is Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Fields edges and meadows. |
| Range | Mostly southeastern half of U.S.; Ontario, Canada. |
What does Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 eat?
The diet of the Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 includes Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida).
When is Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141 active?
Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141: seasonal activity - Late June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Thoreau's Flower Moth - Hodges#11141?
Females lay large eggs in flower heads of Ragweed. Larvae feed on flowers and developing seeds at night, hiding through the day on lower, usually dead leaves. Pupate below soil surface in early fall (Hardwick 1966). One generation per year. Larva have large heads; green with black spots, When mature, they are entirely brownish-grey, no spots.