Acronicta innotata

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

Common NameUnmarked Dagger-moth SeasonalityFlies May-July. IdentificationA medium sized ( 3.5-4 cm. ws) broad-winged dagger-moth with pale grey-brown or tan forewings and shining white hindwings. The markings on the forewings are greatly reduced; only the postmedian line is complete, with the others only indicated by dark spots on the costa. The postmedian line is made up of three outward arcs, partially lined on the distal side by dark scales and on the proximal side by pale ones. The reniform is partially outlined with dark scales in a crescent. The terminal line is comprised of a series of fine dots between the veins. The hindwings are white, with the discal spot and veins faintly marked with darker scales. Sexes similar, the female slightly larger and with darker hindwings. Other Alberta dagger-moths are either darker grey or chalky white (A. vulpina).

Scientific Name Acronicta innotata Common Name Unmarked Dagger-moth Habitat Deciduous woodlands; Common in plantings of birch and poplar in urban areas Seasonality Flies May-July. Identification

A medium sized ( 3.5-4 cm. ws) broad-winged dagger-moth with pale grey-brown or tan forewings and shining white hindwings. The markings on the forewings are greatly reduced; only the postmedian line is complete, with the others only indicated by dark spots on the costa. The postmedian line is made up of three outward arcs, partially lined on the distal side by dark scales and on the proximal side by pale ones. The reniform is partially outlined with dark scales in a crescent. The terminal line is comprised of a series of fine dots between the veins. The hindwings are white, with the discal spot and veins faintly marked with darker scales. Sexes similar, the female slightly larger and with darker hindwings. Other Alberta dagger-moths are either darker grey or chalky white (A. vulpina).

Conservation Widespread and fairly common. Diet Info

White and Yellow birch (Betula papyrifera and B. alleghaniensis), Poplars (Populus tremuloides and P. balsamifera), speckled alder (Alnus rugosa), willow (Salix sp.), and pin cherry (Prunus pennsylvanicus).

Range Across southern Canada to the BC coast; south.

Page Citation

"Acronicta innotata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6123. Accessed 27 Oct. 2021.

Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Hexapoda Subclass Insecta Order Lepidoptera Suborder Ditrysia Superfamily Noctuoidea Family Noctuidae Subfamily Acronictinae Genus Acronicta Species Acronicta innotata

This hierarchy is created from our museum records, it may not always accurately reflect modern taxonomies.

Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
  - Subphylum Chelicerata
    - Class Arachnida
  - Class Hexapoda
    - Subclass Insecta

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Species Details