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

Acronicta tritona (Hübner, 1818) - Triton Dagger

Acronicta tritonaAcronicta tritonaAcronicta tritonaAcronicta tritona
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Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931432		 MONA Number:
9211.00
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 tritona is a member of Species Group II of Forbes (1954), which includes 17 additional species in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color is dark violet gray, with brown shading over the reniform and following the postmedian line (Forbes, 1954). The basal line is black, thin, and branched. The anal dash is also black and usually prominent but the apical dash is missing. The antemedian is poorly defined or absent. The postmedian is single, black, and weakly toothed with a deep indentation at the fold. The orbicular is very small and the reniform is brown bordered anteriorly with a black curved line. The hindwing is fuscous.
Wingspan: 35-40 mm (Forbes, 1954)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta tritona
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Coastal Plain records come mainly from savannas, flatwoods, and sand ridges with only a few from blackwater swamps and pocosins. Piedmont and Mountain records come almost entirely from dry ridges.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on heaths, particularly blueberries (Vaccinium), but also on azaleas (Rhododendron) and possibly other heaths (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, the species has been recorded feeding on Coastal Azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum), and J.B. Sullivan reared a larva from Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Dry Heath Thickets
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 tritona - Triton Dagger

Photos: 24

Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-08
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-03
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Miles Buddy on 2025-04-26
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-25
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-16
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-27
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2024-04-16
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-04-25
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-11
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2020-07-23
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2020-07-23
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-06-06
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2016-05-24
Carteret Co.
Comment: Larva reared from Vaccinium arboreum		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2016-05-24
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2016-04-27
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2016-04-12
Hoke Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, S. Hall on 2015-07-22
Stanly Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ed Corey on 2008-09-30
Bladen Co.
Comment: