Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Acronicta Members: 78 NC Records

Acronicta superans Guenée, 1852 - Splendid Dagger

Acronicta superansAcronicta superansAcronicta superansAcronicta superans
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931444.2		 MONA Number:
9226.00
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. This species is placed in subgenus Agriopodes by Schmidt and Anweiler, and in the Hasta Species Group. Other members of this group in North Carolina include Acronicta hamamelis, A. lithospila, A. innotata, A. betulae, A. radcliffei, A. hasta, A. interrupta, A. laetifica, A. spinigera, A. morula, and A. lobeliae.
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)                                                                                 
Wingspan: 4 - 4.6 cm (Covell, 1984)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: This species is primarily northern in its distribution, reaching North Carolina in the mountains. We also have one record from the Piedmont, but from a high modadnock with strong montane affinities
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta superansAlamance 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 come mainly from montane alluvial forests, cove forests, and high elevation forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed primarily on members of the rose family, including apple (Malus), cherry and plum (Prunus), hawthorn (Crataegus), mountain-ash (Sorbus), and serviceberry (Amelanchier) (Wagner et al., 2011); birch (Betula) and hazel (Corylus) have also been reported. In North Carolina, we have observed this species feeding on apple. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Rosaceous 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 superans - Splendid Dagger

Photos: 18
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: David George on 2022-08-14
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-24
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-26
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-07-21
Graham Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2021-05-21
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-06-30
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2018-07-19
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Stephen Hall; Brian Bockhahn; Paul Scharf on 2016-07-20
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment:
Acronicta superansRecorded by: Paul Scharf,B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2014-06-08
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta superansRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-05-28
Yancey Co.
Comment: