Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211
Acronicta tritona
This record describes Acronicta tritona (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Habitat
Dry forest with blueberry understory
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia west to northeastern Alberta, south to Florida and Texas, and in the USA west to Oregon
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on cranberry, blueberry and rhododendrons/azaleas (all in family Ericaceae)
Life History
solitary defoliator of blueberry. The single annual brood overwinters in the pupal stage. Adults come to light
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta tritona. 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 Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211
How big is Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211?
wingspan 3.5 - 4 mm
Where is Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry forest with blueberry understory |
| Range | Nova Scotia west to northeastern Alberta, south to Florida and Texas, and in the USA west to Oregon |
What does Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211 eat?
The diet of the Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211 includes Larvae feed on cranberry, blueberry and rhododendrons/azaleas (all in family Ericaceae).
What is the life cycle of a Triton Dagger Moth - Hodges#9211?
solitary defoliator of blueberry. The single annual brood overwinters in the pupal stage. Adults come to light