Schinia hulstia

Tepper, 1883

Hulst's Flower Moth

Hulst's Flower is a small noctuid moth described by Tepper in 1883. The was named in honor of George Duryea Hulst, an entomologist and authority on the Catocalinae. It is found across the Great Plains and adjacent regions of western North America, with a wingspan of approximately 24 mm.

Schinia hulstia by (c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan. Used under a CC-BY license.

Schinia hulstia ASUHIC0084903 by Arizona State University Hasbrouck Insect Collection. Used under a CC0 license.

Schinia hulstia MEM366298 by Mississippi Entomological Museum. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Schinia hulstia: //ˈskɪniə ˈhʌlstiə//

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

Identification

Distinguished from other Schinia by geographic range and association with specific plants. The Schinia contains over 120 North American species, many of which are visually similar and require careful examination of genitalia or host plant association for definitive identification. The specific epithet and documented distribution on the Great Plains help separate it from .

Images

Appearance

Small with wingspan of approximately 24 mm. As a member of the Schinia, it likely exhibits the colorful wing patterns characteristic of flower moths in this group, though specific pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Habitat

Great Plains grassland , including shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies. Associated with open, sunny environments where its plants grow.

Distribution

North America: Great Plains from North Dakota south to Texas, ranging eastward to Arkansas and westward to California. Core distribution centered in the central United States prairie region.

Ecological Role

Likely functions as a as an , given the documented of related Schinia visiting flowers for nectar. Larval stage presumably contributes to herbivory on plant flowers and seed pods.

Human Relevance

Named in honor of George Duryea Hulst, recognizing his contributions to entomology. The is of interest to lepidopterists and collectors, as indicated by anecdotal reports of collectors specifically seeking Schinia species.

Similar Taxa

Schinia jaguarinaAnother Schinia found in similar Great Plains and active as during similar periods; both are flower-associated but differ in plant specificity and precise geographic range.
Other Schinia speciesThe contains over 120 North American , many with similar size and general appearance; identification to species level often requires examination of genitalia or knowledge of plant association.

More Details

Etymology

The specific epithet hulstia was chosen by John Bernhardt Smith to honor George Duryea Hulst, described as 'a good entomologist and a well known authority on the Catocalinae.'

Collector interest

Members of the Schinia are popular with collectors, as evidenced by reports of lepidopterists traveling specifically to search for these .