Ragweed Flower Moth
Common NameRagweed Flower Moth
Scientific NameSchinia rivulosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHeliothinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, gray, white
HabitatOpen fields, disturbed areas, roadsides, and other habitats where ragweed grows.
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.
Host PlantsAmbrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the flowers and developing seeds of ragweed species. They pupate in the soil, overwintering as pupae, and emerge as adults the following summer.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled brown and grayish forewings with a prominent, irregular pale median line. Its association with ragweed host plants is also a strong indicator.
Description
A small, stout-bodied moth with mottled brown and grayish-white forewings featuring a distinct, irregular pale median line. Its head and thorax are densely covered in shaggy brown scales, and its eyes are prominent.
