Smeared_dagger_moth
Acronicta oblinita
Species of moth
Acronicta oblinita, the smeared dagger moth or arioch dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Its larva, the smartweed caterpillar, has urticating hairs.[1] The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.[2][3]
| Acronicta oblinita | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Acronicta |
| Species: | A. oblinita |
| Binomial name | |
| Acronicta oblinita (J. E. Smith, 1797) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The smeared dagger moth adult has a wingspan of 3.6–5.4 centimetres (1.4–2.1 in).[1] The forewings have a mottled gray appearance, with orbicular and reniform spots on each dorsal surface that are incompletely outlined and indistinct.[1] Smeared-appearing dark wedge spots are present along the postmedial line with their apices pointed inward.[4] There is a terminal line of dark spots on the forewing.[1] The hindwings are white and also have small dark spots along their terminal line.[1]
The larva is a caterpillar up to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long that bears numerous tufts of irritating setae on wart-like protuberances along its thoracic and abdominal segments.[1] There are bright yellow blotches in the shape of carets (inverted "V" shapes) between the laterally-positioned spiracles.[1][5]
The smeared dagger moth is found across Canada as far north as Lake Athabasca.[6] In the United States, the moth is found in the Pacific Northwest[4] and east of the Rocky Mountains south to Florida and Texas.[6][7]
Habitats include bogs and coastal marshes in the Pacific Northwest[4] and wetlands, forests and meadows more generally.[6] Individuals have been collected in boreal forests in Canada.[6]
The smeared dagger moth has one to two generations per year.[1][8] In the coastal plain of North Carolina, adults can be seen beginning in early March through late June and again from mid-August until early October.[8] Caterpillars may pupate within folded leaves of their host plant.[9] Overwintering occurs as pupae.[1]
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Larval hosts:
- Valo, John, ed. (2022). "smeared dagger (Actonicta oblinita)". MinnesotaSeasons.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Acronicta oblinita". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- Savela, Markku (August 29, 2020). "Acronicta oblinita (Smith, 1797)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- "Acronicta oblinita (J.E. Smith, 1797)". Pacific Northwest Moths. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- Cotinis (9 August 2020). "Species Acronicta oblinita - Smeared Dagger - Hodges#9272". BugGuide. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- Anweiler, G.G. (7 April 2003). "Acronicta oblinita". University of Alberta Museums. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- "931485.00 – 9272 – Acronicta oblinita". North American Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at the Mississippi State University. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- Hall, S.P.; Sullivan, J.B.; Petranka, J.W.; Backstrom, P.; Howard, T. (2022). "Acronicta oblinita (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Smeared Dagger". The Moths of North Carolina. Raleigh: North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Childs, Ken. O'Connor, Marcie (ed.). "Acronicta oblinita - Smeared Dagger Moth". Bug Life Cycles. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Anweiler, G. G. & Schmidt, B. C. (April 7, 2003). "Species Details Acronicta oblinita". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
Media related to Acronicta oblinita at Wikimedia Commons
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