Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243
Acronicta ovata
This record describes Acronicta ovata (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing mottled gray and yellowish-brown; black basal dash and AM line merge to form a Y or T toward base; sharp anal dash present hindwing grayish-brown
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
Nova Scotia to North Carolina, west to Texas, north to Manitoba
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of beech, birch, chestnut, oak
Life History
two or more generations per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta ovata. 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 Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , Jason D. Roberts , Ethan Kistler , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243
What is Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243?
Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 (Acronicta ovata) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243?
wingspan 28-35 mm
How do you identify Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243?
Adult: forewing mottled gray and yellowish-brown; black basal dash and AM line merge to form a Y or T toward base; sharp anal dash present hindwing grayish-brown
Where is Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 found?
Range: Nova Scotia to North Carolina, west to Texas, north to Manitoba
What does Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 eat?
The diet of the Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 includes larvae feed on leaves of beech, birch, chestnut, oak.
When is Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243 active?
Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to September.
What is the life cycle of a Ovate Dagger - Hodges#9243?
two or more generations per year