Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241
Acronicta fragilis
This record describes Acronicta fragilis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Double sharply zigzag lines as a part of grey white and black pattern on front wings are distinctive. Orbicular spot grey to white with darker center. Hindwing yellowish white with faint grey median line and outer shading.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acronictinae
- Genus
- Acronicta (Dagger Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to Florida, west across Canada, south to Kentucky and Minnesota
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on apple, birch, plum, willow, white spruce
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta fragilis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Will Cook , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241
What is Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241?
Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241 (Acronicta fragilis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241?
Wingspan 30mm approx
How do you identify Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241?
Double sharply zigzag lines as a part of grey white and black pattern on front wings are distinctive. Orbicular spot grey to white with darker center. Hindwing yellowish white with faint grey median line and outer shading.
Where is Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241 found?
Range: Newfoundland to Florida, west across Canada, south to Kentucky and Minnesota
What does Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241 eat?
The diet of the Fragile Dagger Moth - Hodges#9241 includes Larvae feed on apple, birch, plum, willow, white spruce.