Moths of North Carolina
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51 NC Records

Acronicta interrupta Guenée, 1852 - Interrupted Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931454.00 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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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.
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: In the Coastal Plain, we have records only from brownwater river bottomland forests, where elm may be the most likely host plant. In the Piedmont, records also come from rich habitats, including some fairly dry upland sites with mafic rock formations. The same is true in the mountains, where there are a number of records from the Amphibolite Mountains and from rich cove forests elsewhere. A few records come from high elevation forests, where Pin Cherry and mountain-ash are common.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on a wide range of hardwood species (Wagner et al., 2011; Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). Prentice (1962) found larvae most commonly on elm, but also on Fire (=Pin) Cherry, mountain ash, hop-hornbeam, and birches. Wagner et al. report that captive larvae show a preference for Fire Cherry and apple over Black Cherry. In North Carolina, they have been observed feeding on elm, but likely utilize a variety of other hardwoods.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Dry 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 interrupta - Interrupted Dagger

Photos: 26

Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-03
Durham Co.
Comment: feeding on American Elm		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-09-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-30
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-06-14
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2023-03-29
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-07-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-06-27
Durham Co.
Comment: Feeding on Elm
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-06-27
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2022-06-27
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-08-16
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-06-05
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-04-05
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-07-25
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-22
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2020-05-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-07-29
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2019-06-30
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-09-02
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2018-08-04
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-05-06
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2017-06-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2015-07-18
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2014-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: