Species Details

Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameQuadrate Dagger Moth SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from mid-June through mid-July. IdentificationA medium-size moth (3.0-4.0 cm wingspan) with grey forewings and white hindwings. Forewings are a clear even bluish-grey. Basal and antemedian lines are doubled and incomplete, and the postmedian line is a thin, dark complete line. There is a thick, black basal dash and a short thick dash in the anal angle. The area between the orbicular and reniform spots is also filled with black scales in an X or square shape, hence the name. Overall appearance is clean and rather elegant. Hindwings are shining white, with some darkening along the margin. The antennae are simple, and the sexes are similar, except the female is somewhat darker, especially on the hindwings. See also Acronicta radcliffei, A. grisea, A. interrupta and A. furcifera, all of which are either darker grey or with more extensive dark patterning.

Scientific Name Acronicta quadrata Common Name Quadrate Dagger Moth Habitat Dry shrubby woodland clearings and edges and cherry shrublands. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid-June through mid-July. Identification
A medium-size moth (3.0-4.0 cm wingspan) with grey forewings and white hindwings. Forewings are a clear even bluish-grey. Basal and antemedian lines are doubled and incomplete, and the postmedian line is a thin,…
A medium-size moth (3.0-4.0 cm wingspan) with grey forewings and white hindwings. Forewings are a clear even bluish-grey. Basal and antemedian lines are doubled and incomplete, and the postmedian line is a thin, dark complete line. There is a thick, black basal dash and a short thick dash in the anal angle. The area between the orbicular and reniform spots is also filled with black scales in an X or square shape, hence the name. Overall appearance is clean and rather elegant. Hindwings are shining white, with some darkening along the margin. The antennae are simple, and the sexes are similar, except the female is somewhat darker, especially on the hindwings. See also Acronicta radcliffei, A. grisea, A. interrupta and A. furcifera, all of which are either darker grey or with more extensive dark patterning.
Life History Adults are nocturnal and come to both lights and sugar bait. The larvae are solitary defoliators of deciduous shrubs. They overwinter as pupae. Conservation An uncommon moth, but no obvious concerns. Diet Info
No Alberta data; elsewhere in Canada recorded larval hosts include Pin cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), plum (Prunus sp.), Saskatoon (Amelanchier sp.), Trembling aspen (Populus…
No Alberta data; elsewhere in Canada recorded larval hosts include Pin cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), plum (Prunus sp.), Saskatoon (Amelanchier sp.), Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and willow (Salix). The principal host appears to be species of wild cherries (Prunus).
Range
In Canada, it occurs sparingly across the wooded area north to the southern edge of the Boreal forest. From western Quebec, west to the Rocky mountains in Alberta and north western British Columbia. In Alberta, it…
In Canada, it occurs sparingly across the wooded area north to the southern edge of the Boreal forest. From western Quebec, west to the Rocky mountains in Alberta and north western British Columbia. In Alberta, it has been collected from Calgary, north along the Red Deer River to the Redwater dunes in the southern boreal forest, just northeast of Edmonton. It has also been collected in the Peace River district of British Columbia, just west of the Alberta border. Widespread in the western USA.

Citation

Page Citation for Acronicta quadrata

Page Citation

"Species Details - Acronicta quadrata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-1863. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 13 specimens of this Species.

13 results plotted on map in 12 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM14012 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1910-06-09

UASM2251 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Redwater Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2000-07-01

UASM43613 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Redwater Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected2000-07-08

BIRD8360 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2004-07-18

CBCC1060 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park Collected ByChristensen, C. B. Date Collected2005-07-08

UASM162956 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Peace River Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-07-11

UASM162957 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Peace River Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-07-11

UASM162958 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Quebec, La Verendrye Park Collected ByTroubridge; Lafontaine Date Collected2003-06-30

UASM162959 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Manitoba, Spirit Dunes Collected ByTroubridge; Lafontaine Date Collected2003-07-21

UASM162960 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Calgary Collected ByWolley-Dod, F. H. Date Collected1914-06-16

UASM162961 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tolman Bridge Recreational Area Collected BySchmidt, C.; Anweiler, G. Date Collected2001-07-01

UASM162962 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Bellevue Hill Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2005-07-07

UASM188344 - Acronicta quadrata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park Date Collected2005-07-08

Adult Seasonal Distribution