Moths of North Carolina
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54 NC Records

Acronicta oblinita (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Smeared Dagger

Acronicta oblinitaAcronicta oblinitaAcronicta oblinitaAcronicta oblinita
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931485		 MONA Number:
9272.00		 Other Common Name:
Smartweed Caterpillar
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 oblinita is a member of Species Group V of Forbes (1954), which in North Carolina also includes A. impleta, A. noctivaga, A. impressa, A. longa, 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: 3.6 - 5.4 cm (Covell, 1984)
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found primarily in the coastal plain and sandhills regions, but we also have a few records from the Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Acronicta oblinita
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 et al. (2011) list beaches, marshes, wet meadows, swamps, and other open, usually wet to moist habitats as used by this species. Our records come almost entirely from the edges of ponds, lakes, and stream shorelines, most fairly open and with a rich herbaceous vegetation.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on many species of forbs, shrubs, and small trees, including some conifers (Wagner et al., 2011). Covell (1984) lists apple (Malus), clover (Trifolium), Corn (Zea mays), cotton (Gossypium), elm (Ulmus), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinus), smartweed (Persicaria), strawberry (Fragaria), and willow (Salix). In North Carolina, the species has been observed feeding on Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and two native willow species, Coastal Plain Willow (Salix caroliniana) and Silky Willow (S. sericea), and likely also utilizes a wide range of host plants in our state. - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Shoreline Forblands
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 oblinita - Smeared Dagger

Photos: 27

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-04
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-04
Wilson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-17
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2023-03-27
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-17
Orange Co.
Comment: Larva feeding on Salix caroliniana
Recorded by: David George on 2022-09-17
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-09-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-09-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2022-09-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn on 2022-09-09
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-06-20
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2021-06-20
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-30
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2021-03-30
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2017-09-13
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and Ed Corey on 2016-10-01
Bladen Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2016-05-18
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman on 2016-05-18
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2016-03-15
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Britta Muiznieks on 2014-09-23
Dare Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams on 2013-09-04
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2012-06-21
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2008-10-21
Hoke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: FKW, SBW on 2007-09-16
Gates Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2007-07-07
Warren Co.
Comment: