Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221
Acronicta funeralis
This record describes Acronicta funeralis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing longitudinally bicolored (light gray on costal two-thirds, black along inner third, with sharp dividing line); broad basal dash has large tooth pointing toward costa; in melanic indidivuals, the light gray is replaced by very dark gray hindwing white on basal half, shading to gray on distal half, with dark gray veins Larva: early instars brown with white markings; fourth instar black with middorsal light yellow markings that are triangular to elliptical with transverse black streaks in the center, and a pair of long black hairs with flattened tips that resemble paddles - hence the common name of Paddle Caterpillar
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
patchy distribution: Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south to Maryland, plus Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and along the west coast from California to BC (apparently missing from much of the midwest and several southern states)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from May to August larvae in July and August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, birch, blueberry/huckleberry ( Vaccinium spp.), cottonwood, dogwood, elm, hazel, hickory, maple, oak, willow
Life History
two or more generations per year in the south; one or two in the north
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: FUNERALIS/FUNERARY: probably refers to the traditional black color related to funerals, as much of the larva and part of the adult is black
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta funeralis. 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 Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Ethan Kistler , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221
What is Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221?
Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 (Acronicta funeralis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221?
wingspan 32-40 mm
How do you identify Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221?
Adult: forewing longitudinally bicolored (light gray on costal two-thirds, black along inner third, with sharp dividing line); broad basal dash has large tooth pointing toward costa; in melanic indidivuals, the light gray is replaced by very dark gray hindwing white on basal half, shading to gray on distal half, with dark gray veins Larva: early instars brown with white markings; fourth instar black with middorsal light yellow markings that are triangular to elliptical with transverse black streaks in the center, and a pair of long black hairs with flattened tips that resemble paddles - hence the common name of Paddle Caterpillar
Where is Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 found?
Range: patchy distribution: Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south to Maryland, plus Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and along the west coast from California to BC (apparently missing from much of the midwest and several southern states)
What does Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 eat?
The diet of the Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder, apple, birch, blueberry/huckleberry ( Vaccinium spp.), cottonwood, dogwood, elm, hazel, hickory, maple, oak, willow.
When is Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221 active?
Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221: seasonal activity - adults fly from May to August larvae in July and August.
What is the life cycle of a Funerary Dagger - Hodges#9221?
two or more generations per year in the south; one or two in the north