Schinia deserticola

Barnes & McDunnough, 1916

A small noctuid of western North American deserts, formerly treated as a of Schinia cupes. have a wingspan of 22–28 mm. The is closely tied to its larval plant Camissonia claviformis, with adults typically found resting on or near the flowers.

Schinia deserticola 34114766 by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Schinia deserticola by Unspecified. Used under a Copyrighted free use license.Schinia deserticola MEM354567 by Mississippi Entomological Museum. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Schinia deserticola: /ˈskiː.ni.ə dɛˌzɛr.tɪˈkoʊ.lə/

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

Identification

Distinguished from the closely related Schinia cupes by geographic range and elevation; formerly considered . are small (wingspan 22–28 mm) and associated with Camissonia claviformis flowers. Accurate identification may require examination of genitalia or reference to original description.

Images

Habitat

Desert and arid shrubland environments where the plant Camissonia claviformis occurs.

Distribution

Western North America: southern California to southeastern Arizona, north to west-central Utah and southeastern Oregon.

Diet

Larvae feed on Camissonia claviformis (evening primrose ). feeding habits are not documented.

Host Associations

  • Camissonia claviformis - larval Larvae feed on this plant; are found in association with it.

Life Cycle

Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Larvae are known to feed on Camissonia claviformis.

Behavior

have been observed resting on flowers of the plant. activity is likely given characteristics, though specific behavioral observations are limited.

Ecological Role

of Camissonia claviformis through flower visitation; herbivore as larva.

Similar Taxa

  • Schinia cupesFormerly treated as a ; now recognized as distinct based on geographic and morphological differences.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Elevated from status under Schinia cupes to full status based on subsequent systematic study.

Tags

Sources and further reading