Schinia citrinellus

Grote & Robinson, 1870

Citrus Gem

Schinia citrinellus, commonly known as the Citrus Gem, is a noctuid described by Grote and Robinson in 1870. It occurs across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other members of the Schinia, it is likely associated with specific plants for its caterpillar stage, though detailed information for this particular species appears limited in published sources.

Schinia citrinella by Unspecified. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Schinia citrinellus: /ˈskɪniə ˌsɪtrɪˈnɛləs/

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Identification

Members of the Schinia are typically small, colorful with distinctive wing patterns. S. citrinellus can be distinguished from similar Schinia by its yellowish-citrine coloration, as suggested by its specific epithet and . The genus contains over 120 species in North America, many of which are difficult to distinguish without close examination. S. citrinellus is found in more arid regions of the southwestern U.S. compared to many eastern Schinia species.

Images

Distribution

Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and northern Mexico.

Similar Taxa

  • Schinia jaguarinaAnother southwestern U.S. Schinia with similar size and flower-visiting , but with jaguar-patterned wings rather than citrine coloration
  • Schinia oleaginaShares yellowish coloration but has different wing pattern and plant associations

Sources and further reading