Schinia acutilinea

Grote, 1878

Acute-lined Flower Moth, Angled Gem

Schinia acutilinea is a small found in arid western North America. have a wingspan of 25–27 mm and are active in August. The was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878 and was synonymized with Schinia accessa by David F. Hardwick in 1996, though subsequent research by Michael G. Pogue suggests this lumped multiple distinct species.

Schinia acutilinea by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.Schinia acutilinea by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.Schinia accessa syn. S. acutilinea by Unspecified. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Schinia acutilinea: /ˈskiː.ni.ə əˌkjuː.tɪˈlaɪ.ni.ə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from related Schinia by the combination of its geographic distribution in the western Great Basin and plains, August period, and association with Artemisia plants. The species name 'acutilinea' (-lined) suggests pattern characteristics, though specific diagnostic features require examination.

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Appearance

Wingspan 25–27 mm. Specific coloration and pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Habitat

Dry southern portions of the Canadian prairies and Great Basin regions; associated with sagebrush-dominated .

Distribution

Southern Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, Canada; south across the Great Plains and Great Basin to southern Arizona and California, USA.

Seasonality

active in August.

Diet

feed on Artemisia , specifically Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) and Artemisia nova (black sagebrush). feeding habits are not documented.

Host Associations

  • Artemisia tridentata - larval big sagebrush
  • Artemisia nova - larval black sagebrush

Ecological Role

Larval on sagebrush; specific functions are not documented.

Human Relevance

Subject of taxonomic research regarding boundaries; historically of interest to .

Similar Taxa

  • Schinia accessaFormerly synonymized with S. acutilinea by Hardwick (1996), but Pogue's research indicates they represent distinct
  • Other Schinia speciesMany Schinia are flower-associated and externally similar; identification requires examination of and associations

Misconceptions

The was treated as a synonym of Schinia accessa from 1996 until Pogue's research demonstrated that 'S. accessa' as defined by Hardwick actually comprised multiple distinct species.

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Sources and further reading