Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
described in 1874 by Grote, who originally placed it in genus Tamila
Identification
Adult: forewing gray with broad white medial band but narrower than in S. albafascia; reniform spot dark gray to blackish; subterminal line white, jagged, irregular; fringe checkered; hindwing white basally; discal spot pale gray, faint or absent; terminal band pale gray, narrow or absent.
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
(1)
Range
western United States: Minnesota and Illinois to Texas, west to California, north to Idaho
Season
adults fly from April to October (2 broods)
Food
larvae probably feed on
Dotted Blazingstar (
Liatris punctata) in the eastern portion of the range
Life Cycle
probably two generations per year
Remarks
The image labelled S. tertia by Paul Opler on the butterfliesandmoths.org site is presumably S. albafascia due to its wider white medial band on the forewing, and the large dark discal spot on the hindwing (see PDF doc in Internet References)
See Also
Schinia albafascia FW has wider white medial band, and HW discal spot is large and black
Print References
Pogue, M.G. & C.E. Harp 2004. A review of the
Schinia tertia (Grote) species complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae). Zootaxa 473: 1-32 (
PDF)
