Moths of North Carolina
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258 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)
Structural photos
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.
Acronicta lobeliae
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 species in both the red and white oak groups (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, they have been recorded feeding on White Oak (Quercus alba) and Willow Oak (Q. phellos). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
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

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

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-04
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-28
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-08-30
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-30
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-26
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-08-05
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-15
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-13
Orange Co.
Comment: A mid-instar larva that was feeding on White Oak.		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-13
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2024-04-20
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-04-08
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-04-04
Carteret Co.
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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.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-08-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-12
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-08-08
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: Lenny Lampel on 2023-07-26
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: