Moths of North Carolina
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):

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View PDFNoctuidae Members: 71 NC Records

Acronicta morula Grote & Robinson, 1868 - Ochre Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931453.00 MONA Number: 9236.00
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 hamamelis, lithospila, innotata, betulae, radcliffei, hasta, interrupta, laetifica, spingigera, superans, and lobeliae.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner (2005) lists fields, woodlands, and forest edges as habitat. The majority of our records come from cove forests and northern hardwood forests in the Mountains. In the Piedmont, records come mainly from rich bottomlands. In the Coastal Plain, it has been found in Brownwater river floodplains and a few stands of mesic hardwoods that may be associated with marl.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae have only been confirmed to feed on Elms, with only American Elm firmly documented (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). A few other species have been reported but are questionable.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 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 morula - Ochre Dagger

Photos: 27

Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-21
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-05-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-05-12
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-04-10
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-05-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-05-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-05-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-11-07
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-11-07
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-11-07
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-06-07
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-04
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-04-28
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-04-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2018-08-08
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2017-07-17
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2016-05-09
Warren Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Scharf on 2015-06-18
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf,B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger on 2014-06-09
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2013-08-15
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2013-05-12
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2010-07-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: