Moths of North Carolina
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Acronicta Members:
29 NC Records

Acronicta noctivaga Grote, 1864 - Night-Wandering Dagger

Acronicta noctivagaAcronicta noctivagaAcronicta noctivagaAcronicta noctivaga
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NoctuidaeSubfamily: AcronictinaeP3 Number: 931477.4 MONA Number: 9259.00
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. Acronicta noctivaga is a member of Species Group V of Forbes (1954), which in North Carolina also includes A. impleta, A. impressa, A. longa, A. oblinita, A. lanceolaria, and A. sinescripta.
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)                                                                                 
Wingspan: 3.3 - 3.7 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found primarily at lower elevations in the mountains, it also occurs in at least a few locations along the coast, but is apparently absent from most of the state.
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
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner et al. (2011) list barrens, floodplains, woodlands, and forest edges as habitats used by this species. In the Mountains, our records come mainly from alluvial and cove forests, but also from high elevation summits. In the Piedmont, records come lake shores and in the Coastal Plain from swamps.
Larval Host Plants: Smith and Dyar (1898, p. 258) state that host plants are "Poplar; also various low plants." Tim McCabe (cited in Wagner et al., 2011) found a larva on Meadowsweet (Spiraea) and reared this species both on that plant as well as cherry. While Meadowsweet may be used in the mountains, it does not occur in the Piedmont and coastal plain, where cottonwoods seem more likely. Robinson et al. (2010) also list Red Oak, dogbane, and Vaccinium, but these hosts require confirmation and more research is needed into the host plants that are utilized in North Carolina. - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S2S3
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 noctivaga - Night-Wandering Dagger

Photos: 15

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-23
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2023-07-25
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-14
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-07-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2021-05-27
Graham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-04-06
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-07-06
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-07-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-06-28
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-01
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2011-05-02
Camden Co.
Comment: Photograph taken on May 2, 2011 was submitted to BugGuide