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Species Details

Acronicta americana

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

Common NameAmerican Dagger Moth SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta from late June through mid-July. IdentificationA fairly large (5.0 - 6.2 cm wingspan) brownish grey moth with darker markings. The forewings are grey with darker lines and spots, and with the veins lightly lined with dark scales. The postmedian line is doubled and the interspace is white, forming a contrasting toothed band. The hindwing is pale grey-brown with a faint darker median line and veins in the male. The female is similar but darker, especially the hindwings which are sooty brown. The antennae of both sexes are simple. A. dactylina is similar, but is lighter powdery grey, with fewer markings and in particular lacking the doubled, white-filled postmedian band on the forewing, the median line on the hindwings, and the dark scales along the veins.

Scientific Name Acronicta americana Common Name American Dagger Moth Habitat Deciduous woodlands, shelterbelts and urban plantations. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta from late June through mid-July. Identification
A fairly large (5.0 - 6.2 cm wingspan) brownish grey moth with darker markings. The forewings are grey with darker lines and spots, and with the veins lightly lined with dark scales. The postmedian line is doubled…
A fairly large (5.0 - 6.2 cm wingspan) brownish grey moth with darker markings. The forewings are grey with darker lines and spots, and with the veins lightly lined with dark scales. The postmedian line is doubled and the interspace is white, forming a contrasting toothed band. The hindwing is pale grey-brown with a faint darker median line and veins in the male. The female is similar but darker, especially the hindwings which are sooty brown. The antennae of both sexes are simple. A. dactylina is similar, but is lighter powdery grey, with fewer markings and in particular lacking the doubled, white-filled postmedian band on the forewing, the median line on the hindwings, and the dark scales along the veins.
Life History
The larvae are solitary defoliators on various deciduous trees, in particular maple and birch. They are covered in long white or pale yellow hairs, with several tufts of longer, black hairs. There is a single brood…
The larvae are solitary defoliators on various deciduous trees, in particular maple and birch. They are covered in long white or pale yellow hairs, with several tufts of longer, black hairs. There is a single brood each year, which overwinter as pupae. They are never common enough in Alberta to be considered a pest. Most likely to be found associated with urban and shelterbelt plantings of Manitoba maple. The adults are usually attracted to light. The American Dagger-moth is primarily a species of the eastern hardwood forests. The southern ssp. eldora is paler with crisper markings and Alberta specimens from Medicine Hat have been assigned to this form by Bowman (1951). Bowman also listed May as the adult flight period, apparently in error as all specimens in his collection are labeled as collected in June-July.
Conservation Widespread but uncommon here at the northwestern edge of it's range. Diet Info In Alberta larvae have been collected on Manitoba maple (Acer negundo). other trees have also been reported as hosts elsewhere (see Rings et al. 1992 and Prentice 1962). Range
A species of the eastern hardwood forest, recorded west to southeastern Alberta, and south to UT, CO, TX, KS and GA. In Alberta, it has been collected mainly in the eastern aspen parklands and grasslands regions,…
A species of the eastern hardwood forest, recorded west to southeastern Alberta, and south to UT, CO, TX, KS and GA. In Alberta, it has been collected mainly in the eastern aspen parklands and grasslands regions, north to Lloydminster. Reports of American dagger moths from further west in Alberta (Peace River and foothills regions) in Prentice (1962) are questionable and need verification.

Citation

Page Citation for Acronicta americana

Page Citation

"Species Details - Acronicta americana, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2813/9-4937. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Specimen Information

There are 20 specimens of this Species.

20 results plotted on map in 7 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM18249 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat Collected ByCarr, Frederick S.

UASM13832 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-07-10

UASM13864 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1940-05-29

UASM13866 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-06-25

UASM13867 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-07-08

UASM13894 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lloydminster Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1942-07-06

UASM99238 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Raymond Collected ByShigematsu, S. Date Collected1967-07-08

UASM99402 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat Collected ByScott, J. Date Collected2008-08-07

UASM99854 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2009-07-10/2009-07-11

UASM163070 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-17

UASM163071 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-17

UASM163072 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-17

UASM163073 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-17

UASM163074 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-17

UASM163075 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-20

UASM163076 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: New Brunswick, Saint-Basile Collected ByHensel, H. Date Collected1995-06-20

UASM163077 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sunnydale Collected ByBruggemann, P. F. Date Collected1941-06-02

UASM163078 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Sunnydale Collected ByBruggemann, P. F. Date Collected1943-06-10

UASM163079 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Crooked Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. Date Collected1997-07-10

UASM163080 - Acronicta americana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Crooked Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. Date Collected1998-07-20

Adult Seasonal Distribution