Kingdom Animalia Order Lepidoptera Genus Acronicta Higher classification Acronicta | Phylum Arthropoda Family Noctuidae Scientific name Acronicta oblinita Rank Species | |
Similar Acronicta, Acronicta impleta, Acronicta afflicta, Acronicta hasta, Acronicta increta | ||
Smeared dagger moth caterpillar noctuidae acronicta oblinita on leaf
The smeared dagger moth (Acronicta oblinita) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west across Canada to British Columbia, north to Lake Athabasca and south to Florida and Texas.
The wingspan is 36–54 mm. Adults are on wing from May to July in one generation depending on the location. The fore wing is brown and the hind wing is off-white. Specimens from the southern states are larger and much paler than typical specimens from further north
The larvae feed on various forbs, shrubs, and trees. They are considered an occasional pest in the fruit industry due to defoliation of the host plants.
References
Acronicta oblinita Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA