Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Acronicta Members: 34 NC Records

Acronicta hastulifera (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Frosted Dagger


Acronicta hastuliferaAcronicta hastuliferaAcronicta hastuliferaAcronicta hastulifera
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Noctuidae
Subfamily:
Acronictinae
P3 Number:
931422
MONA Number:
9201.00
Other Common Names:
Hoary Alder Dagger, American Alder Dagger
Comments: One of 74 species in this genus found in North America north of Mexico (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020), 42 of which have been recorded in North Carolina. Acronicta hastulifera was included in Species Group I by Forbes (1954), which in North Carolina also includes A. rubricoma, A. americana, A. dactylina, and A. lepusculina.
Species Status: Although described by Smith and Abbot in 1797, this species appears to have been seldom portrayed since and the only detailed description we have found is that given by Forbes (1954).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Most larval records come from alder, but with a few from birch and hazel (Wagner, et al., 2011).                                                                                 
Adult Markings: A medium-large dagger that is far more easily identified in the larval stage than in the adult. Sexes are dimorphic, the males having nearly white forewings and hindwings and the females having darker, powdery gray forewings and evenly luteous hindwings (Forbes, 1954). The postmedian of the forewings is conspicuous in both sexes: white with a sharply defined black outer edge and a diffuse or absent inner line. Dark patches are usually present on the outside of the postmedian and a dark smudge is located over the reniform spot; the orbicular is usually small, outlined in black, and circular. A basal dash is absent but a somewhat smeared anal dash is typically present. The hindwings have a median line that shows up well on the underside but more weakly above. The veins of hindwings of the male are lined with gray, but are not contrasting in the females. Acronicta dactylina is highly similar in size and wing pattern, but males usually have darker forewings than A. hastulifera and have a bluer-gray shade in both sexes than found in A. hastulifera (Forbes, 1954). The postmedian is also more sharply marked in A. hastulifera but less deeply excavated between the veins. A. americana is also somewhat similar but is larger and easily distinguished by differences in hindwing pattern: dark fuscous in the females and luteous but with dark-lined veins in the males. Although it may be possible to identify at least some individuals of A. dactylina based on photographs of the adults, association with known populations of the larvae provides more confidence.
Wingspan: 50 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Adult Structural Features: Forbes (1954) states that the valves of male A. hastulifera are narrower and more rounded at the apex than those of A. dactylina.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta hastuliferaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Our records all come from lake, pond, and stream shorelines.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed predominantly on alder (Alnus) but have also been reported on birch (Betula) and hazel (Corylus) (Wagner et al., 2011). The species has been observed feeding on Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata) in North Carolina, but more research is needed into other hosts that are utilized in our state. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Shoreline Shrublands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S3S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments:

 Photo Gallery for Acronicta hastulifera - Frosted Dagger

Photos: 19
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-20
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-05
Mitchell Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-02
Orange Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Steve Hall on 2018-06-16
Orange Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-02
Madison Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-08-12
Warren Co.
Comment: Believed to be a male hastulifera based on its whitish coloration and sharply defined outer edge of the postmedian line
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2013-06-15
Cabarrus Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-25
Ashe Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2012-07-09
Warren Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2012-07-06
Ashe Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-06-29
Ashe Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: ASH on 2011-09-27
Moore Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-08-23
Warren Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-06-08
Warren Co.
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Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2010-05-31
Warren Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Steve Hall on 2003-10-07
Hoke Co.
Comment: Larva found feeding on Tag Alder in a Sandhills Seep
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Stephen Hall; Scott Hartley; Chris Helms on 2000-08-28
Moore Co.
Comment: Female, captured in same stream floodplain where a larva had been observed. Wingspan = 5.1 cm; forewing length = 2.4 cm
Acronicta hastuliferaRecorded by: Stephen Hall; Scott Hartley; Chris Helms on 2000-08-28
Moore Co.
Comment: Female, captured in same stream floodplain where a larva had been observed. Wingspan = 4.9 cm; forewing length = 2.3 cm