Phlox Flower Moth
Schinia indiana (Smith)

Status: State Endangered (August 1, 1989).

Occurence: Occurs in Burnett, Eau Claire, Jackson, Menominee, and Monroe Counties of Wisconsin.

Aid to ID: The adult moth appears as a pink wedge about 0.6 inches (17mm) long on the petals of a pink downy phlox (Phlox pilosa) flower. The forewings are pink to reddish with triangular violet median areas and slender violet margins. The hind wings, which are rarely visible, are black with yellowish fringe. The wingspan is about 1.3 inches (33mm). Larvae are unlikely to be found but the head is dark or orange and the body is green suffused with reddish-brown and marked with light lateral stripes.

Habitat: Pine/oak barrens and scrub oak habitat as well as prairies and roadsides on sandy soils support the larval host plant, downy phlox. Often co-occurs with the Karner blue butterfly. The moths are most often found on the bright pink or "fresh" blossoms of phlox rather than those that are faded. Density of phlox at inhabited sites may vary from sparse to abundant but are usually the patches with the greatest local abundance.

Management Considerations: Downy phlox requires open, sunny sites with some shade, but does not appear to colonize new openings very quickly. From the end of April through July is the critical period of plant growth, adult emergence and larval development. Spring burning or mowing too close to the time of adult emergence will delay flowering and result in the absence of blossoms and seeds when needed. Phlox flower moths are pupae by mid-July and management is best conducted after that time. Timing considerations are very important for mowing or burn management to preserve habitat where several Wisconsin populations occur.

The content for this page was originally presented in the Endangered and Threatened Invertebrates of Wisconsin, a free publication available by contacting the Endangered Resources Program.