Moths of North Carolina
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238 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)

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: Wagner (2005) lists woodlands and forests as habitat. Our records come from nearly the entire spectrum of oak-containing habitats, from maritime forests and sandridges in the Coastal Plain, to alluvial forests and high mountain ridges
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on oaks, including both red and white oak groups (Wagner et al., 2011)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
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 lobeliae - Greater Oak Dagger

103 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-05
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-31
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-15
Carteret Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-12
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-08-08
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2023-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2023-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2023-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-22
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-19
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Richard Teper, David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-18
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Hall on 2023-04-26
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-03-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2022-05-29
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-04-21
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-04-05
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2021-08-13
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-07-28
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-07-20
Graham Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-28
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-25
Buncombe Co.
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