Acronicta grisea

Walker, 1856

Gray Dagger

Acronicta grisea, commonly known as the gray dagger, is a noctuid first described by Francis Walker in 1856. It occurs across southern Canada and the northern United States, with a wingspan of 30–40 mm. are active in midsummer.

Acronicta griseaZK by Schmidt BC. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.CATALOGUE-BM-PLATE CXXV by Sir GEORGE F. HAMPSON, Bart.. Used under a Public domain license.Acronicta grisea 02 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acronicta grisea: /əˈkrɒnɪktə ˈɡrɪsɪə/

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Identification

The gray dagger can be distinguished from other Acronicta by its gray coloration and geographic range. The species name 'grisea' (Latin for gray) refers to this characteristic. Two are recognized: A. g. grisea and A. g. revellata.

Images

Appearance

Wingspan 30–40 mm. Overall coloration gray, consistent with the . Specific wing pattern details are not documented in available sources.

Distribution

Transcontinental in southern Canada and the northern United States, ranging from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Documented from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada, and Vermont in the United States.

Seasonality

are on wing in midsummer. Specific period dates are not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Acronicta americanaBoth are dagger moths in the Acronicta, but A. americana (American dagger ) has yellowish coloration and occurs in eastern North America with different larval associations.
  • Acronicta betulaeBoth are dagger moths with similar , but A. betulae (birch dagger ) is associated with birch trees and has more striking wing patterning with apparent two-layered forewings.

More Details

Subspecies

Two are recognized: Acronicta grisea grisea and Acronicta grisea revellata.

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Sources and further reading