Species Details

Acronicta vulpina

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

Common NameVulpina Dagger Moth SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from late May through early July. IdentificationA medium-size (4.0-4.4 cm wingspan) chalky white moth lightly dusted with gray scales. The normal lines are reduced to a few black spots where they would meet the costa and a series of small dots marking the terminal line. Other markings include a short basal streak, a few dark scales at the orbicular, a small crescent for the reniform. Several small spots or streaks on the upper half, and a larger black blotch and streak in the anal angle indicate the subterminal line. The hindwings are white with a small discal mark and a series of black spots along the margin at the veins. Sexes similar but females with a few more dark scales, especially along the veins of the hindwings. Very similar to and easily confused with A. lepusculina, which is pale grey instead of white, and has more complete wing markings. Vulpina is the whitest of our Dagger moths. Until very recently Vulpina was treated as a subspecies of the Old World species leporina, but has since been shown to be a separate species, with both species occurring together in eastern Russia. The Alberta population is usually referred to subspecies cretatoides Benjamin.

Scientific Name Acronicta vulpina Common Name Vulpina Dagger Moth Habitat Mature deciduous and mixed wood forest; urban plantations. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta from late May through early July. Identification
A medium-size (4.0-4.4 cm wingspan) chalky white moth lightly dusted with gray scales. The normal lines are reduced to a few black spots where they would meet the costa and a series of small dots marking the terminal…
A medium-size (4.0-4.4 cm wingspan) chalky white moth lightly dusted with gray scales. The normal lines are reduced to a few black spots where they would meet the costa and a series of small dots marking the terminal line. Other markings include a short basal streak, a few dark scales at the orbicular, a small crescent for the reniform. Several small spots or streaks on the upper half, and a larger black blotch and streak in the anal angle indicate the subterminal line. The hindwings are white with a small discal mark and a series of black spots along the margin at the veins. Sexes similar but females with a few more dark scales, especially along the veins of the hindwings. Very similar to and easily confused with A. lepusculina, which is pale grey instead of white, and has more complete wing markings. Vulpina is the whitest of our Dagger moths. Until very recently Vulpina was treated as a subspecies of the Old World species leporina, but has since been shown to be a separate species, with both species occurring together in eastern Russia. The Alberta population is usually referred to subspecies cretatoides Benjamin.
Life History
Acronicta vulpina is a solitary defoliator. There is a single brood each year, which overwinters as pupae. The adults come to both light and sugar bait. The larvae are covered with long soft pale yellow hair,…
Acronicta vulpina is a solitary defoliator. There is a single brood each year, which overwinters as pupae. The adults come to both light and sugar bait. The larvae are covered with long soft pale yellow hair, pointing forward on one side and backward on the other, due to the habit of resting with the body doubled sideways. There are several small hair pencils, white and black, which do not exceed the length of the yellow hair.
Conservation A fairly common and widespread species; no concerns. Diet Info
No specific Alberta data; Canadian records (which includes Alberta data) list Aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides), White birch (Betula papyrifera), Balsam poplar (Populus basamifera), willow (Salix sp.) and Speckled…
No specific Alberta data; Canadian records (which includes Alberta data) list Aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides), White birch (Betula papyrifera), Balsam poplar (Populus basamifera), willow (Salix sp.) and Speckled alder (Alnus rugosa) (1 record only) with aspen and White birch most frequently recorded (Prentice, 1962).
Range New York and Newfoundland west to central BC, south to Colorado. In Alberta found throughout the wooded areas, north into the southern Boreal forest and the Peace River region; also in the Cypress Hills.

Citation

Page Citation for Acronicta vulpina

Page Citation

"Species Details - Acronicta vulpina, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2371. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Anweiler, G. G.
Role species page author
Date 2003-04-07

References

Specimen Information

There are 74 specimens of this Species.

74 results plotted on map in 25 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13829 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1917-06-26

UASM13837 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1941-06-14

UASM13839 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1910-05-15

UASM13840 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-07-01

UASM13842 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1921-06-24

UASM13844 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1929-06-29

UASM13848 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1916-06-19

UASM13849 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-06-01

UASM13855 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1936-05-30

UASM13863 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1919-06-21

UASM13865 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1923-06-17

UASM13879 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1921-06-25

UASM13888 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-06-09

UASM13890 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Ironwood Lake Collected ByFuller, E. Date Collected1995-06-16

UASM13892 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1928-06-23

UASM13893 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Date Collected1918-06-21

UASM13896 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Red Deer Collected ByWhitehouse, F. C. Date Collected1918-06-13

UASM7414 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield Collected BySchmidt, B. C. Date Collected2000-06-28

UASM43579 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1997-08-06

UASM43580 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1998-06-05

UASM43581 - Acronicta vulpina

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta Collected ByLawrie, D. Date Collected1998-06-05

Adult Seasonal Distribution