Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212
Acronicta grisea
This record describes Acronicta grisea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing dark gray with black basal and anal margin dashes; postmedial line with sharply-dentate margin hindwing white
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
coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States
Seasonal Activity
adults fly in midsummer
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus ), apple, birch, elm, poplar, and willow ( Salix )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta grisea. 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 Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Ethan Kistler , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212
What is Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212?
Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 (Acronicta grisea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212?
wingspan 30-40 mm
How do you identify Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212?
forewing dark gray with black basal and anal margin dashes; postmedial line with sharply-dentate margin hindwing white
Where is Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 found?
Range: coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States
What does Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 eat?
The diet of the Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 includes larvae feed on leaves of alder ( Alnus ), apple, birch, elm, poplar, and willow ( Salix ).
When is Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212 active?
Gray Dagger - Hodges#9212: seasonal activity - adults fly in midsummer.