Species Insects & ArthropodsPrimrose Moth

Primrose Moth

Schinia florida

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Primrose Moth (Schinia florida)

The Primrose Moth is a stunningly beautiful small moth with vivid pink and yellow wing markings that perfectly match the flowers of its primrose host plant — an extraordinary example of floral mimicry for camouflage. It is one of many flower moths in the genus Schinia, each often matched in color to a specific flower. Adults rest inside or on flowers during the day and fly at night.

Habitat
Open fields, meadows, and roadsides with evening primrose
Diet
Larvae: flowers and seeds of evening primrose. Adults: nectar
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Primrose Moth

The best time to see a Primrose Moth is July–August, when about 95% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,800 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Not certain it is a Primrose Moth? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

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