Moths of North Carolina
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Acronicta Members:
61 NC Records

Acronicta lithospila Grote, 1874 - Streaked Dagger

Acronicta lithospilaAcronicta lithospila
view caption 		Acronicta lithospilaAcronicta lithospila
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931434.6		 MONA Number:
9266.00
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. innotata, A. betulae, A. radcliffei, A. hasta, A. interrupta, A. laetifica, A. spinigera, A. superans, A. morula, and A. lobeliae.
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: 3.4 - 4.2 cm (Covell, 1984)
Structural photos
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.
Acronicta lithospila
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: Found in barrens and dry oak forests throughout its range (Wagner et al., 2011). North Carolina records come from dry forests, including sandhills in the Coastal Plain, monadnocks in the Piedmont, and dry ridges in the Mountains. A few come from more mesic oak forests.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are oligophagous, feeding primarily on oaks (Quercus), but are also reported to use chestnut (Castanea), hickory (Carya), and walnut (Juglans) (Wagner et al., 2011). In North Carolina, we have observed the species feeding on Willow Oak (Quercus phellos). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Dry-Xeric Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [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 lithospila - Streaked Dagger

Photos: 27

Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-08-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kenneth Geisert, David Bradley, Julie Tuttle, Patrick Coin, Kaitlyn Elliott, Becky Watkins on 2024-08-17
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-05-13
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: feeding on Quercus phellos
Recorded by: David George on 2023-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: feeding on Quercus phellos		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Bo Sullivan on 2023-08-08
Wilkes Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-05-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-17
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-08-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2021-08-01
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-04
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2021-05-23
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-08-17
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-06-26
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2018-09-04
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-08-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-08-11
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-19
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2016-07-07
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-07-30
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2014-08-16
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: JWP on 2014-07-03
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2014-05-31
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2013-05-10
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-08-23
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-06-09
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: S. Hall on 2000-04-06
Moore Co.
Comment: