Noctuidae
Guides
Schinia carrizoensis
Carrizo flower moth
Schinia carrizoensis is a species of flower moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Osbourne in 2010. It is known only from central California. The wingspan is approximately 31 mm. As a member of the genus Schinia, it likely shares the characteristic behavior of resting on host plant flowers during the day, though specific details for this species remain limited.
Schinia chryselloides
Schinia chryselloides is a small noctuid moth described in 2005, closely related to Schinia chrysellus. It occurs in the south-central United States from eastern Colorado through New Mexico to Texas. Adults fly during summer months and have a wingspan of approximately 21 mm.
Schinia ciliata
Snakeweed Flower Moth
Schinia ciliata, commonly known as the Snakeweed Flower Moth, is a small noctuid moth in the subfamily Heliothinae. It is distributed across the southwestern and south-central United States. The species has a wingspan of approximately 22 mm and is closely associated with its larval host plant, Gutierrezia sarothrae. Adults are diurnal and often found resting on or near flowers of their host plant.
Schinia coercita
Schinia coercita is a noctuid moth described by Grote in 1881. It is a member of the flower moth genus Schinia, which contains over 120 species in North America. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and California. Like other Schinia species, adults are likely associated with host plant flowers for feeding and oviposition.
Schinia crotchii
Schinia crotchii is a small noctuid moth in the subfamily Heliothinae. It was formerly treated as a synonym of Schinia cupes but has been restored to full species status based on systematic revision. The species has a restricted distribution in western North America, with larvae that feed specifically on Castilleja exserta.
Schinia cupes
Schinia cupes is a small noctuid moth in the subfamily Heliothinae, described by Grote in 1875. The species is characterized by a wingspan of approximately 30 mm. It exhibits bivoltine flight periods, with adults active in spring and again in late summer. The larvae are specialized feeders on specific host plants in the southwestern United States.
Schinia diffusa
Schinia diffusa is a small noctuid moth species described by Smith in 1891. The species is characterized by a wingspan of 23–28 mm and is known to occur in North America, with confirmed records from Colorado and Texas. Larvae feed specifically on Machaeranthera annua, an annual asteraceous plant. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults are likely associated with the flowers of their larval host plants.
Schinia dobla
Schinia dobla is a noctuid moth first described by Smith in 1906. The species is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, California, and Nevada. Its larvae are documented to feed on Ambrosia dumosa, a desert shrub in the sunflower family. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults likely rest on or near their host plant flowers.
Schinia edwardsii
Schinia edwardsii is a small noctuid moth in the genus Schinia, a diverse group of flower-associated moths often called "flower moths." The species was described by Smith in 1906 and is restricted to the northwestern United States. Like other Schinia species, adults are likely diurnal and associated with specific host plant flowers.
Schinia erosa
Schinia erosa is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1906. It inhabits desert regions of the southwestern United States, specifically the Mojave and Sonoran Desert areas east of the Peninsular Range in southern California and south-central Arizona. The species is univoltine with adults active in late summer and fall, and exhibits a specialized larval association with Isocoma acredenia (burrobrush), a desert shrub in the Asteraceae family.
Schinia felicitata
Schinia felicitata is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 27–28 mm, distributed from northern Mexico northward to southern California and southwest Utah. The larvae feed specifically on Oenothera deltoides (desert evening primrose). Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults are likely flower-visitors, though detailed behavioral observations for this species are limited.
Schinia ferrisi
Schinia ferrisi is a noctuid moth described in 2004 by Pogue and Harp. The species is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States, specifically southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Adults are active in September. As a member of the genus Schinia, it likely shares the group's characteristic association with specific host plants for larval development, though direct observations of this species' biology remain limited.
Schinia fulleri
Fuller's flower moth
Schinia fulleri is a small noctuid moth endemic to central Florida, described by McElvare in 1961. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. The species is univoltine, with one generation per year. Larvae are specialist feeders on Balduina angustifolia, a member of the sunflower family.
Schinia gaurae
Clouded Crimson Moth, Clouded Crimson
Schinia gaurae, the clouded crimson moth, is a Noctuidae moth species described by James Edward Smith in 1797. It is widely distributed across North America from the Great Plains to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species exhibits univoltine or bivoltine life history depending on latitude, with larvae specializing on Gaura species. Adults are notable for their distinctive crimson and white coloration.
Schinia gracilenta
Slender Flower Moth, Iva Flower Moth
Schinia gracilenta is a small noctuid moth native to North America, first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The species has a wingspan of approximately 28 mm and produces one generation annually. It is listed as endangered in Connecticut, reflecting localized population concerns in parts of its range.
Schinia honesta
Black-Spotted Gem
Schinia honesta, commonly known as the black-spotted gem, is a small noctuid moth first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. It is one of approximately 123 species in the genus Schinia found in North America north of Mexico. The species is characterized by its relatively small size, with a wingspan of about 25–26 mm. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with specific host plants for larval development, though detailed life history information remains limited.
Schinia hulstia
Hulst's Flower Moth
Hulst's Flower Moth is a small noctuid moth described by Tepper in 1883. The species 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 illustra
Schinia illustra is a small moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Smith in 1906. It is found in the western United States, specifically in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The wingspan measures 24–26 mm. Like other members of the genus Schinia, adults are likely associated with flowers for nectar and resting.
Schinia immaculata
Schinia immaculata is a small noctuid moth endemic to riparian habitats along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. First described in 2004, it is one of the more recently recognized species in the diverse genus Schinia. Adults fly in spring with a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. The larval host plant remains unknown, though the species occurs in vegetation dominated by tamarisk, mesquite, acacia, and desert shrubs.
Schinia indiana
Phlox Moth
Schinia indiana, commonly known as the Phlox Moth, is a small noctuid moth native to the Midwestern United States. The species exhibits a close ecological association with its larval host plant, Phlox pilosa, feeding on its flowers and seed pods. Adults are diurnal and often rest on the host plant flowers, where their coloration provides camouflage. The species was described by Smith in 1908.
Schinia intrabilis
Schinia intrabilis is a small noctuid moth native to the southwestern United States. Adults are active in early spring, with a single generation per year. The species has a wingspan of approximately 23 mm. Larvae are specialized feeders on Pluchea sericea, a shrub in the aster family.
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 mortua
Schinia mortua is a small noctuid moth found across the western half of North America. Adults have a wingspan of 23–27 mm. The species is associated with host plants in the Asteraceae family, specifically Grindelia and Haplopappus, on which the larvae feed. Like many Schinia species, adults are likely flower-visiting and may be active during daylight hours.
Schinia n-sp
Schinia n-sp is an undescribed species of flower moth in the family Noctuidae, genus Schinia. The 'n-sp' designation indicates it is a new species awaiting formal scientific description. Members of this genus are typically small to medium-sized noctuid moths with strong associations with specific host plants, often Asteraceae. The genus Schinia is well-known among lepidopterists for its colorful species and specialized ecological relationships.
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 trifascia
Three-lined Flower Moth
Schinia trifascia, commonly known as the three-lined flower moth, is a small noctuid moth with a wingspan of 20–31 mm. Adults are active from July to October and have one generation per year. The species is notable for its close association with specific host plants in the aster family, with larvae feeding on Brickellia, Eupatorium, and Liatris.
Schinia ultima
Schinia ultima is a noctuid moth described by Strecker in 1876. It belongs to the flower moth genus Schinia, a group of approximately 123 North American species whose adults are often brightly colored and closely associated with their host plants. The species has a documented wingspan of approximately 23 mm. Like other members of the genus, adults likely rest on or near the flowers of their host plants during daylight hours.
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.