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

Acronicta hamamelis Guenée, 1852 - Witch Hazel Dagger


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931461.00 MONA Number: 9248.00 MONA Synonym: Acronicta subochrea
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. Acronicta hamamelis is a member of Species Group II of Forbes (1954), which includes 17 additional species in North Carolina.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Acronicta subochrea)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1954); Schmidt and Anweiler (2020)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The ground color is whitish but is heavily dusted and mottled with coal black, producing an overall effect of blue-gray (Forbes, 1954). A luteous patch -- conspicuous in spread specimens but often hidden in the normal resting posture -- is located at the extreme base of the forewing, contrasting with a diffuse dark patch in the fold just above it; no well-defined dashes are otherwise present although there is usually a dark triangular mark in the middle of the terminal area, as well as one located subterminally. The lines are jet black and the postemedian is lunulate and has a whitish filling. The orbicular and reniform are also completely outlined with black, and the filling of the orbicular lacks white or black scales (Schmidt and Anweiler, 2020). The hindwings are characteristically bronzy-luteous, unlike all or our other members of this genus.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
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: Schmidt and Anweiler (2020) describe this species as associated with rich, mesic hardwood forests. This description fits the majority of the sites where this species has been recorded in North Carolina, despite the fact that its host plant appears to use a much wider range of forest types (see Vascular Plants of North Carolina). Coastal Plain records come from brownwater river floodplains, Piedmont records from mesic slopes, and Mountain records from cove forests, particularly in the Amphibolite Mountain region.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are monophagous on Witch-Hazel (Wagner et al., 2011). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for Rich Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 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 hamamelis - Witch Hazel Dagger

Photos: 7

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-08-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-07-22
Warren Co.
Comment: Melanic form showing the bronzy color of the hindwing