Moths of North Carolina
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Acronicta Members:
249 NC Records

Acronicta hasta Guenée, 1852 - Speared Dagger

Acronicta hastaAcronicta hastaAcronicta hastaAcronicta hasta
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931441.2		 MONA Number:
9229.00		 Other Common Name:
Cherry Dagger
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. interrupta, A. laetifica, A. spingigera, A. superans, 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)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species is similar in pattern to other members of this group but has a generally darker gray ground color, thicker and more diffuse basal and subtornal dashes, and darker gray filling of the orbicular spot and subterminal line (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). Dissection may be needed to separate melanic members of this group.
Wingspan: 3.4 - 4.5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Forewing Length: 19.6 mm (average for males); 20.7 mm, females (Schmidt et al., 2020)
Adult Structural Features: According to Schmidt and Anweiler (2020), male A. hasta and A. interrupta can be separated from the other members of the Hasta Species Group in their lack of an ampulla on the dorsal edge of the sacculus. No mention is made of any differences beween those two species, however.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Last instar larvae are quite distinctive, having a black ground color and a rich, wine-red dorsal line (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020)
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta hasta
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: According to Wagner (2005), habitats include fields, power line rights-of-way, and woodlands. Our records come mainly from upland habitats, but we also have them from the barrier islands, Coastal Plain swamp forests, and peatlands.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are stenophagous, feeding on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and other species of Prunus (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, we have only observed the species feeding on Black Cherry. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Rosaceous Thickets
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]
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 hasta - Speared Dagger

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-05-18
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2025-05-18
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-05-15
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-06
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-09-12
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-17
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2024-08-17
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-06-03
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-06-01
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-05-01
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2024-04-29
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-04-09
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: R. Teper, David George on 2023-09-25
Caswell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-05
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-26
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-21
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-07-09
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2023-06-16
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-06-06
Durham Co.
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