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

Acronicta tritona (Hübner, 1818) - Triton Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931432.00 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
Wingspan: 3.5 - 4 cm (Covell, 1984)
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.
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 azaleas, blueberries, and possibly other heaths (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, it has been recorded feeding on Coastal Azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum). - 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 S4
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: 9

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: 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: