Identification
Forewing bright pink, with yellow in lower basal area beyond the subterminal line; head pink; thorax and abdomen yellow above, pink below; hindwing white above; underside of all wings light yellow, with broad pink band along costa.
Range
Newfoundland to northern Florida, west to eastern California, north to Alberta.
Habitat
Fields, clearings, waste places where host plant grows; adults rest on host plant flower stems or inside blooms during the day, and fly at night (adults attracted to light)
Season
Adults fly from late June to September (peak numbers in July and August).
Food
Larvae feed on flower buds but not leaves of evening primrose (Oenothera spp.); also reported on Gaura.
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on flower buds of host plant. One generation a year.
See Also
Rosy Maple Moth (
Dryocampa rubicunda)...eastern US & Can. to e TX;
Pink-spotted Flower Moth (
Erythroecia suavis)...mid-west from MN to AZ; and
Shinia felicitata...western US, from s CA to sw UT and w AZ.
Internet References
Life History of Schinia Florida (Noctuidae) (D.F. Hardwick - Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society - PDF)
