The white flower moth (Schinia bimatris) is a moth of the family Noctuidae found in the United States and Canada.[1][2] It is designated as Endangered under Canada's Species At Risk Act and Manitoba's Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act.[3][4]

Schinia bimatris
adult white flower moth
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Schinia
Species:
S. bimatris
Binomial name
Schinia bimatris
(Harvey, 1875)
Synonyms
  • Pippona bimatris Harvey, 1875
  • Lygranthoecia bimatris (Harvey, 1875)
  • Adonisea bimatris (Harvey, 1875)

Description edit

The appearance of white flower moth larvae is unknown. The wings, thorax, and abdomen of adult moths are completely white, while the head is orange.[1][5] Adults have a wingspan of about 30 mm (1.2 in).[1][5]

Range edit

The range of this species includes much of the south-central and south-eastern United States and a disjunct population in the Carberry sandhills in Manitoba, Canada.[1][2][6]

Ecology edit

In the United States, the white flower moth has been recorded in coastal longleaf pine woodlands, while in Canada it is restricted to open sand dune areas.[1][6] The larval food plant(s) has yet to be determined but it has been suggested that the larvae may feed on Nuttall's Evening-primrose (Oenothera nuttallii).[1] The adults are primarily nocturnal but have been observed flying during the day.[1][6]

Taxonomy edit

This species was first described by Leon F. Harvey in 1875 as Pippona bimatris from specimens collected in Bosque County, Texas, by Gustav Belfrage, but was later transferred to Schinia.[5][7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Schinia bimatris Report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved on 2009-10-06.
  2. ^ a b Gregory R. Pohl; Jean-François Landry; Christian Schmidt; et al. (2018). Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska. Series Faunistica. Vol. 118. ISBN 978-954-642-909-4. OL 32898597M. Wikidata Q97158808.
  3. ^ "Species at risk registry". species-registry.canada.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  4. ^ "Agriculture and Resource Development | Province of Manitoba". www.gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  5. ^ a b c Leon F. Harvey (1875). "On Texan Lepidoptera collected by Mr. Belfrage". Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. 3: 3–16. ISSN 0096-4131. Wikidata Q93561883.
  6. ^ a b c A. Richard Westwood; Christopher P. Friesen (February 2009). "Occurrence and habitat of the endangered white flower moth, Schinia bimatris (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in Manitoba". The Canadian Entomologist. 141 (1): 80–85. doi:10.4039/N08-046. ISSN 0008-347X. Wikidata Q95288853.
  7. ^ William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes (July 1954). "Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States, Part III: Noctuidae". Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station Memoirs. Wikidata Q94329025.