Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Schinia arcigera (Guenée, 1852)
Anthoecia arcigera Guenée, 1852
Lygranthoecia limbalis Grote, 1875
Phylogenetic sequence # 932134
(1) Size
Forewing length 9-12 mm (Powell & Opler, 2009)
(2)
Wingspan 22-25 mm
Identification
Adult - forewing dark brown with paler grayish-brown median and terminal areas; dark brown areas often tinted with red or purple; AM and PM line white, sometimes faint; AM line arc-shaped, and PM line slightly wavy, almost straight; hindwing of male black on outer half, bright yellow on inner half, with rectangular black discal spot; hindwing of female dark brown to blackish with pale fringe.
Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Arizona and Idaho, north to Saskatchewan.
Habitat
Fields with hostplant (asters); adults may be found on flowers during the day, but are mainly nocturnal and come to light.
Season
Adults fly from July to September, perhaps to October-November in south.
Food
Larvae feed on asters:
Aster laevis, puniceus reported by Fauske in North Dakota, and additionally
Aster ericoides reported by Handfield in Quebec;
Slender Tansyaster (
Psilactis tenuis) is a foodplant in southern Texas [Hardwick, reported by Bruce Walsh].
Adults feed on flower nectar of herbaceous plants.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on flowers of the foodplant; one generation per year in the north.
See Also
Ragweed Flower Moth forewing is blackish-gray and lighter gray with a deeply curved PM line, and hindwing of male is unmarked and has no yellow (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
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Schinia jaguarina forewing is paler yellowish-brown
Print References
Boisduval, J. A. & A. Guenée 1852. Histoire naturella des Insectes. Lépidoptère 4, Noctuilites 2:
184
Covell Jr., C. V. 1984. A field guide to the moths of eastern North America, p.143, pl.29 #20, 21
(3)
Grote, A. R. 1875. On North American Noctuae. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 27:
421 (
Lygranthoecia limbalis)
Handfield, Louis. 1999. Les Guides des Papillons du Quebec. Broquet. 662 pp.
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler. 2009. Moths of Western North America, p.292, Pl.52.42.
(2)
