Schinia florida, the primrose moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae described by Achille Guenée in 1852. Its range includes most of temperate North America aside from the west coast.[1][2]

Primrose moth
On evening-primrose
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Schinia
Species:
S. florida
Binomial name
Schinia florida
(Guenée, 1852)
On ground
Mounted

Adults have a pink head and pale yellow to creamy white thorax and abdomen.[2] The forewings are pink with pale yellow markings.[2] The hindwings are creamy white.[2] The wingspan is about 30 mm.[2]

Eggs are laid on the flower buds of evening-primroses (Oenothera spp.), which are the larval host plants.[2] Eggs hatch 4–5 days after being laid.[2] Larvae go through five instars before burrowing into the ground to pupate and overwinter.[2]

There is one generation per year, with the adult flight period timed to coincide with the bud development of its larval host plants.[2] Adults are nocturnal, and often rest in the flowers of evening-primroses during the day.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j D.F. Hardwick (1970). "The life history of Schinia florida". Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 24 (4): 282–287. ISSN 0024-0966. Wikidata Q110027654.
edit