Acronicta othello
Smith, 1908
Acronicta othello is a described by Smith in 1908. It belongs to the dagger Acronicta, a group characterized by distinctive dark markings on the that often resemble daggers or swords. The occurs in western North America, with records from California and surrounding regions. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be and attracted to light sources.

Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acronicta othello: /æˈkrɒnɪktə oʊˈθɛloʊ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Distribution
Western North America, including California. GBIF records confirm presence in North America. Specific microhabitat preferences and elevational range have not been documented in available sources.
Similar Taxa
- Acronicta americana Dagger is a widespread eastern North American with similar pattern elements, but differs in geographic range and likely associations
- Acronicta betulaeBirch Dagger is an eastern with overlapping pattern characteristics, but occurs in different geographic region and is associated with birch plants
- Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger is another North with comparable markings, distinguished by subtle differences in pattern details and geographic distribution
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Megalopygidae | Beetles In The Bush
- A Fruitful Discussion: Field Tour Gathers Insect Biocontrol Community
- Bug Eric: New Mexico Dragonfly Blitz - Day 4
- Bug Eric: Remembering Moth Week 2025
- Bug Eric: First Night of Blacklighting
- How One Entomologist Found Work-Life Balance in an Industry Career