Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Acronicta Members: 264 NC Records

Acronicta lobeliae Guenée, 1852 - Greater Oak Dagger

Acronicta lobeliaeAcronicta lobeliaeAcronicta lobeliaeAcronicta lobeliae
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931444.4		 MONA Number:
9238.00		 Other Common Name:
Lobelia 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. hasta, A. interrupta, A. laetifica, A. spinigera, A. superans, and A. morula.
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: 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)
Genitalia and other structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs statewide
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta lobeliaeAlamance 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)

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