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