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

Acronicta lobeliae Guenée, 1852 - Greater Oak Dagger

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931455.00 MONA Number: 9238.00
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. laetifica, A. spinigera, A. superans, and A. morula.
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: A large, pale gray dagger with three strong dashes and a thick bar connecting the reniform and orbicular spots (Forbes, 1954). Larger than either A. hasta or A. laetifica; the forewing length in A. lobeliae is > 21 mm but barely over 20 mm in the other two (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). Acronicta hasta is also usually darker gray, has a thicker but shorter basal dash, and has a weaker or absent apical dash (Forbes, 1954). Acronicta laetifica has a whiter ground color and finer, more contrasting dashes. Some individuals of A. lobeliae are difficult to distinguish from the other two species based on photographs alone; measurements of the forewing are always helpful.
Wingspan: 50 mm (Forbes, 1954); 4.2 - 6 cm (Covell, 1984)
Forewing Length: 22.8 mm, males; 25 mm, females (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide
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)

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