Moths of North Carolina
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Acronicta Members:
124 NC Records

Acronicta laetifica Smith, 1897 - Pleasant Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931444.00 MONA Number: 9227.00
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. spinigera, A. superans, A. morula, and A. lobeliae. Melanic specimens generally need to be dissected.
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)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species generally has a more contrasting pattern than other members of this group, with the spots strongly outlined and with the basal, apical, and anal dashes all sharply defined and with a dash between the orbicular and reniform. The ground color is typically pale gray to whitish, distinguishing it from the darker gray hasta. Compared to interrupta, laetifica is usually larger and possesses more strongly outlined orbicular and reniform spots. Lobeliae is similar in pattern and color but is noticeably larger.
Wingspan: 3.7 - 4.3 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult Structural Features: According Schmidt and Anweiler (2020), males of laetifica can be separated from both hasta and interrupta by brushing the ventral surface of the abdomen to expose the base of the male valves. In laetifica, the ventro-caudal corner of the basal flange forms an obtuse angle, whereas in both hasta and interrupta, it forms a right angle. No characters have been found to distinguish the females of this group, however.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The species seems to be found throughout most of the state, though it is rare at high elevations in the mountains, and possibly absent from parts of the coastal plain.
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 bottomlands, where hornbeam is nearly universally present, and from mafic areas, where hop-hornbeam is common.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on hornbeam, hop-hornbeam, and possibly hazelnut (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, the species has been recorded feeding on American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Corylaceous Thickets and Understories
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 laetifica - Pleasant Dagger

45 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2024-04-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2024-04-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-10
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-07
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-06-14
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-15
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-15
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-08-15
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2022-08-08
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-29
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-04-14
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-24
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-04-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-04-06
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-08-20
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-17
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-08-13
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-05-30
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-08-08
Madison Co.
Comment: