Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNoctuidae Members: Acronicta Members: 34 NC Records

Acronicta hamamelis Guenée, 1852 - Witch Hazel Dagger

Acronicta hamamelis
view caption 		Acronicta hamamelisAcronicta hamamelisAcronicta hamamelis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Noctuidae		Subfamily:
Acronictinae		P3 Number:
931434.5		 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 Resources: 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.
Acronicta hamamelisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
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 American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) (Wagner et al., 2011), which has been confirmed as the host in North Carolina. Reports from other hosts are questionable and need verification. - 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 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 hamamelis - Witch Hazel Dagger

Photos: 12
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-17
Buncombe Co.
Comment: Early instar collected on Witch-hazel on 2024-08-17; photographed on 2024-08-31 after feeding on Witch-hazel in captivity. 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-08
Chatham Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15
Madison Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: Darryl Willis on 2021-08-11
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-21
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-03
Ashe Co.
Comment: 		Acronicta hamamelisRecorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-07-22
Warren Co.
Comment: Melanic form showing the bronzy color of the hindwing