Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Acronicta Members: 60 NC Records

Acronicta interrupta Guenée, 1852 - Interrupted Dagger

Acronicta interruptaAcronicta interruptaAcronicta interruptaAcronicta interrupta
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931441.3		 MONA Number:
9237.00
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. 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, BOLD, iNat SearchTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This species resembles other members of the Hasta Group but usually lacks the dash (sometimes faintly marked) connecting the orbicular and reniform spots that is typically present in other members of this group. It is also generally more smoothly gray with less strongly outlined orbicular and reniform spots and has a more evenly gray hindwing (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). Compared to A. laetifica, which can be closely similar, interrupta has comparatively darker shading along the postmedial line and in the oribicular spot and has a more evenly gray medial area (Anweiler and Schmidt). Melanic specimens of this group are probably best distinguished genitalically.
Wingspan: 3.5 - 4.2 cm (Covell, 1984)
Forewing Length: 18.3 mm, males; 18.8 mm, females (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020)
Adult Structural Features: According to Schmidt and Anweiler (2020), male A. interrupta can be separated from A. laetifica by the right-angle, rather than obtuse angle, of the ventro-caudal corner of the ventral flange of the clasper. Females cannot be distinguished genetically from A. laetifica and A. hasta.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Mature larvae are easily distinguished based on their possession of paired dorsal red spots on shiny black dorsal patches and by a cream-white subdorsal stripe (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 interruptaAlamance 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 Hanover 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.