Species Details
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…
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).
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.
Citation
Page Citation for Acronicta innotata
Page Citation
"Species Details - 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 19 Jul. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 77 specimens of this Species.
UASM13847 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByFuller, E.
Date Collected1995-06-15
UASM13854 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1943-05-28
UASM13856 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1933-06-03
UASM13857 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1933-06-15
UASM13882 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1942-06-13
UASM13884 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1943-07-06
UASM13897 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByBowman, K.
Date Collected1944-05-29
UASM7299 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Tofield
Collected BySchmidt, B. C.
Date Collected1999-06-29
UASM43585 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-06-13
UASM43586 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-06-09
UASM43587 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-06-06
UASM43588 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-06-10
UASM43589 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-06-11
UASM43590 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-05-31
UASM43591 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1995-06-13
UASM43592 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1998-06-07
UASM38075 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1993-06-02
UASM24164 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected1999-06-11
UASM78211 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner Lakes
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Macaulay, S. H.
Date Collected2004-07-12
UASM78212 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner Lakes
Collected ByMacaulay, D. A.; Macaulay, S. H.
Date Collected2004-07-07
BIRD7494 - Acronicta innotata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2000-06-04