IMPRESSED DAGGER MOTH
Acronicta impressa
OWLET MOTHS (Noctuidae)
Description
The Impressed Dagger Moth has a total length of about .75 to 1 inch. The forewing is gray to brown with jagged antemedial and postmedial lines. The pale gray orbicular spot is outlined in black. Inconspicuous basal and anal dashes are clouded with dark shading. The hindwing is plain pale brown. The larva is usually black above and orange below the level of spiracles. These caterpillars are highly variable in color and degree of hairiness. Clusters of hairs over thoracic segments 2 and 3 and abdominal segment 1 are usually orange. Clusters of hair over abdominal segments 2 - 7 are white. Long hairs extend beyond both ends of the body. The head is shiny black. The larva grows to about 1.75 inches. The caterpillars mimic the tiger moth caterpillars.
Occurrence
This moth is uncommon in this area. It has been photographed once at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in late July 2014. The adults are attracted to lights.
Comments
The larvae are generalist feeders on various deciduous trees including alder, apple, birch, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, currant, dogwood, elm, oak, plum, rose, serviceberry, spirea and willow. Occasionally they will eat nonwoody plants such as dogbane. The prepupal larva makes a cocoon in leaves.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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