Heliothinae
Guides
Schinia ligeae
Schinia ligeae is a noctuid moth first described by Smith in 1893. The species is restricted to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. Larvae feed on two specific host plants: Machaeranthera canescens and Xylorhiza tortifolia, both members of the Asteraceae family.
Schinia luxa
Schinia luxa is a noctuid moth native to southwestern North America. The species exhibits variable coloration, ranging from plain white or light gray to individuals with dark gray spotting. Adults are active from August to September, with a wingspan of 26–31 mm. The larvae are specialist feeders on Mentzelia species.
Schinia lynx
Lynx Flower Moth
Schinia lynx, commonly known as the lynx flower moth, is a noctuid moth native to eastern and central North America. The species exhibits a univoltine life cycle with one generation per year. Adults are associated with flowers of their host plants, where they likely rest and feed on nectar. The larval stage is specialized, feeding on two genera of Asteraceae: Erigeron and Heterotheca subaxillaris.
Schinia maculata
Schinia maculata is a small noctuid moth described by Pogue in 2006. It is known exclusively from south-eastern Texas, with adults active in mid-October. The species belongs to a genus of colorful flower moths, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Schinia meadi
Mead's Flower Moth
Schinia meadi is a small noctuid moth of western North America, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 24 mm and are active from June to July. The species belongs to the flower moth genus Schinia, whose larvae typically feed on flowers and seed pods of their host plants.
Schinia niveicosta
Spanish Needles Flower Moth
Schinia niveicosta is a noctuid moth species found in the southwestern United States. Adults are recorded primarily in March and April, with additional records from May and September through November, as well as January and February. The species is associated with the host plant Palafoxia linearis, on which its larvae feed. The common name Spanish Needles Flower Moth reflects its presumed association with flowers of its host plant.
Schinia nr-jaguarina
Jaguar Flower Moth (near species)
Schinia nr-jaguarina is a flower moth in the family Noctuidae, closely related to or potentially conspecific with Schinia jaguarina. The 'nr' designation indicates it is near the described species, suggesting possible taxonomic uncertainty or geographic variation. Like other members of the genus Schinia, it is likely diurnal and associated with specific host plants.
Schinia nubila
Camphorweed Flower Moth, Brown Flower Moth
Schinia nubila, known as the camphorweed flower moth or brown flower moth, is a small noctuid moth described by Herman Strecker in 1876. The species has a wingspan of 22–24 mm and completes one generation annually. Larvae have been documented feeding on Heterotheca subaxillaris and Solidago species. Its geographic range spans from Oklahoma to New Jersey, south to Florida and Texas, with documented expansion northeastward.
Schinia nundina
Goldenrod Flower Moth
Schinia nundina, commonly known as the goldenrod flower moth, is a noctuid moth native to eastern and central North America. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773. Adults are typically encountered in late summer and early autumn when their host plants are in bloom. The species has one generation per year.
Schinia obliqua
Schinia obliqua is a small noctuid moth in the subfamily Heliothinae, first described by Smith in 1883. The species is native to western North America, with confirmed records from California to Colorado and western Texas. Adults are active from July through September. The wingspan measures approximately 23 mm. Schinia unimacula was synonymized with this species in 1996 but later resurrected as a separate species in 2003, though some taxonomic uncertainty may persist.
Schinia obscurata
Obscure Schinia Moth, Erigeron Flower Moth
Schinia obscurata is a noctuid moth in the subfamily Heliothinae, commonly known as the obscure schinia moth or Erigeron flower moth. It is one of approximately 123 North American species in the genus Schinia, a group noted for often colorful adults that frequently rest on or near their host plant flowers. The species is distributed across central and eastern North America, with larvae that specialize on Erigeron species.
Schinia oleagina
Schinia oleagina is a noctuid moth described by Morrison in 1875. It occurs across much of western North America and has a wingspan of approximately 27 mm. The species is notable for its specialized larval association with Brickellia, a genus of flowering plants in the aster family. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults are often found resting on or near their host plants.
Schinia regina
Reginia Primrose Moth
Schinia regina is a noctuid moth described in 2003, found in the south-central United States. Adults are active in late summer and early autumn. The species is closely associated with its larval host plant, Palafoxia sphacelata.
Schinia rivulosa
Ragweed Flower Moth
Schinia rivulosa, the ragweed flower moth, is a small noctuid moth found across much of North America. It is univoltine, with one generation per year, and is tightly associated with ragweed (Ambrosia) as a larval host. Adults are active from July to October and are often observed visiting flowers for nectar.
Schinia roseitincta
Schinia roseitincta is a small noctuid moth described by Leon F. Harvey in 1875. It is distributed across the northern United States and Canada, with records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The species has a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. Its larvae feed specifically on Tetraneuris acaulis, a perennial herb in the sunflower family.
Schinia sanguinea
Bleeding Flower Moth
Schinia sanguinea, commonly known as the bleeding flower moth, is a small noctuid moth native to North America. Adults are active in autumn, primarily September through October, and are characterized by their distinctive pinkish-red forewings with darker markings. The species is notable for its specialized larval association with Liatris (blazing star) species, where caterpillars feed on developing flowers and seed heads. The moth occupies a broad geographic range across eastern and central North America, with a disjunct population in Ontario.
Schinia sanrafaeli
Schinia sanrafaeli is a small noctuid moth described by Opler in 2004. The species is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States, specifically Utah and western New Mexico. With a wingspan of 20–21 mm, it is among the smaller members of the genus Schinia. Like other Schinia species, adults likely visit flowers for nectar and rest on host plants.
Schinia saturata
Brown Flower Moth
Schinia saturata, commonly known as the Brown Flower Moth, is a noctuid moth native to the southern and central United States. First described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874, this small moth has a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. The species completes one generation per year. Larvae are specialized feeders on two plant species in the Asteraceae family.
Schinia siren
Alluring Schinia Moth
Schinia siren, commonly known as the Alluring Schinia Moth, is a small noctuid moth native to central and southwestern North America. The species was described by Strecker in 1876 and is characterized by its relatively modest wingspan of approximately 22 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on Verbesina encelioides, a member of the sunflower family. The moth occurs in grassland and prairie habitats across its range.
Schinia spinosae
Spinose Flower Moth
The spinose flower moth (Schinia spinosae) is a small noctuid moth native to North America. It has a wingspan of approximately 22–24 mm. The species is a specialist herbivore whose larvae feed on Polygonella species, with Polygonella articulata documented as a primary host in northern portions of its range. Adults are presumably nocturnal and attracted to light, consistent with other members of the genus Schinia.
Schinia subspinosae
Schinia subspinosae is a noctuid moth described by David F. Hardwick in 1996. The species is known from North America with records suggesting a distribution centered on or limited to Florida. As a member of the genus Schinia, it belongs to a diverse group of flower moths whose adults frequently rest on and feed from the blossoms of their larval host plants.
Schinia suetus
Schinia suetus is a noctuid moth first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It occurs in mountainous regions of western North America, with adults active during summer months. The species has four recognized subspecies distributed across its range. Larvae feed on Lupinus species.
Schinia thoreaui
Thoreau's Flower Moth
Schinia thoreaui, commonly known as Thoreau's Flower Moth, is a small noctuid moth native to North America. Adults are active during summer months and are associated with flowers of their host plants. The species was described by Grote and Robinson in 1870 and is one of approximately 123 Schinia species found in North America north of Mexico.
Schinia tobia
Schinia tobia is a small noctuid moth found in the southwestern United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. Larvae are known to feed on Dicoria canescens, a plant in the aster family. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults likely visit flowers for nectar.
Schinia unimacula
Rabbitbush Flower Moth
A small flower moth in the family Noctuidae with a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. Adults are active from July to October across the western United States. The species is closely associated with rabbitbrush (Ericameria) as its larval host plant.
Schinia vacciniae
Schinia vacciniae is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of approximately 19 mm. It belongs to the genus Schinia, a diverse group of flower moths known for their often colorful appearance and specialized associations with particular host plants. The species is documented from western North America, with records from Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Schinia varix
Schinia varix is a small noctuid moth described in 2003, notable for its striking sexual dimorphism in forewing coloration. Males display bright yellow forewings with dark purple bands, while females have darker forewings with similar patterning. The species is restricted to a narrow range in the south-central United States. Despite being collected as early as 1944, its formal description was delayed for nearly six decades.
Schinia velaris
A small noctuid moth in the genus *Schinia*, known from the southwestern United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 25 mm. Larvae are documented to feed on *Lepidospartum squamatum*, a shrubby composite. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with the flowers of its host plant during its adult stage.
Schinia villosa
Little Dark Gem
Schinia villosa, commonly known as the Little Dark Gem, is a small noctuid moth first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1864. It is primarily a western North American species associated with montane habitats, though its range extends eastward across the Canadian prairies. The species exhibits the typical Schinia trait of flower-visiting behavior, with adults active in mid-summer and larvae feeding on Asteraceae hosts.
Schinia zuni
Schinia zuni is a small moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by McElvare in 1950. The species is known from a limited number of records in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and New Mexico. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 26 mm. Like other members of the genus Schinia, this species likely exhibits flower-associated behavior, though specific biological details remain poorly documented due to its rarity.