Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247
Acronicta tristis
This record describes Acronicta tristis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: Larva: Genitalia ♂: A. tristis is very similar to A. increta, but the ground color is a cold gray or bluish gray, lacking the greenish or brown tints of increta. Dark A. tristis are a flat gray black, with no sheen, whereas dark A. increta have a slight sheen. Average FWL in males 17.3mm and females 18.0mm. ( Mass Moths ) genitalia of the increta group (albarufa,ovata, exilis, immodica, modica, increta, cryptica and tristis)is virtually identical. (C. Schmidt)
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 and New Brunswick westward to the Great Lakes region, and southward along the Appalachians to northern Georgia, and the northern parts of the Gulf Coast states.
Seasonal Activity
Single flight primarily in June and July; August records may result from a partial second generation or prolonged emergence.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva have been found on Fagus grandifolia (American Beech). Also oak .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta tristis. 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 Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , marcie oconnor , Fyn Kynd , JoAnneRusso , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247
What is Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247?
Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 (Acronicta tristis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247?
Adult: Larva: Genitalia ♂: A. tristis is very similar to A. increta, but the ground color is a cold gray or bluish gray, lacking the greenish or brown tints of increta. Dark A. tristis are a flat gray black, with no sheen, whereas dark A. increta have a slight sheen. Average FWL in males 17.3mm and females 18.0mm. ( Mass Moths )
Where is Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 found?
Range: Nova Scotia and New Brunswick westward to the Great Lakes region, and southward along the Appalachians to northern Georgia, and the northern parts of the Gulf Coast states.
What does Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 eat?
The diet of the Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 includes Larva have been found on Fagus grandifolia (American Beech). Also oak ..
When is Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247 active?
Acronicta tristis - Hodges#9247: seasonal activity - Single flight primarily in June and July; August records may result from a partial second generation or prolonged emergence..