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

Acronicta superans Guenée, 1852 - Splendid Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931443.00 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
Wingspan: 4 - 4.6 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Seems to be restricted to the mountains, though we have one record from the northwest Piedmont.
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: 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, cherry, hawthorn, mountain ash, plum, and serviceberry (Wagner et al., 2011); birch and hazel have also been reported. In North Carolina, we have observed this species feeding on apple (Malus sp.).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Montane Rosaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S4S5
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: 14

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