Biology:Acronicta oblinita
| Acronicta oblinita | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Acronicta |
| Species: | A. oblinita
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| Binomial name | |
| Acronicta oblinita (J. E. Smith, 1797)
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| Synonyms | |
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Acronicta oblinita, the smeared dagger moth or arioch dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Its larva, the smartweed caterpillar, has urticating hairs.[1] The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.[2][3]
Description
The smeared dagger moth adult has a wingspan of 3.6–5.4 centimetres (1.4–2.1 in).[1] The forewings have a mottled gray appearance, with orbicular and reniform spots on each dorsal surface that are incompletely outlined and indistinct.[1] Smeared-appearing dark wedge spots are present along the postmedial line with their apices pointed inward.[4] There is a terminal line of dark spots on the forewing.[1] The hindwings are white and also have small dark spots along their terminal line.[1]
The larva is a caterpillar up to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long that bears numerous tufts of irritating setae on wart-like protuberances along its thoracic and abdominal segments.[1] There are bright yellow blotches in the shape of carets (inverted "V" shapes) between the laterally-positioned spiracles.[1][5]
Range
The smeared dagger moth is found across Canada as far north as Lake Athabasca.[6] In the United States, the moth is found in the Pacific Northwest[4] and east of the Rocky Mountains south to Florida and Texas.[6][7]
Habitat
Habitats include bogs and coastal marshes in the Pacific Northwest[4] and wetlands, forests and meadows more generally.[6] Individuals have been collected in boreal forests in Canada.[6]
Life cycle
The smeared dagger moth has one to two generations per year.[1][8] In the coastal plain of North Carolina, adults can be seen beginning in early March through late June and again from mid-August until early October.[8] Caterpillars may pupate within folded leaves of their host plant.[9] Overwintering occurs as pupae.[1]
Host plants
Larval hosts:
- Salix spp.[6]
- Alnus spp.[6]
- Fragaria spp.[6]
- Typha spp.[6]
- Chamaenerion angustifolium[6]
- Polygonum spp.[4][9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Valo, John, ed (2022). "smeared dagger (Actonicta oblinita)". http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/smeared_dagger.html.
- ↑ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I. et al., eds (2003). "Acronicta oblinita". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/lepindex/detail/?taxonno=265799.
- ↑ Savela, Markku (August 29, 2020). "Acronicta oblinita (Smith, 1797)". https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/acronictinae/acronicta/#oblinita.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Acronicta oblinita (J.E. Smith, 1797)". http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-noctuidae/subfamily-acronictinae/acronicta/acronicta-oblinita/.
- ↑ Cotinis (9 August 2020). "Species Acronicta oblinita - Smeared Dagger - Hodges#9272". https://bugguide.net/node/view/3223. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Anweiler, G.G. (7 April 2003). "Acronicta oblinita". https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2819.
- ↑ "931485.00 – 9272 – Acronicta oblinita". http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=9272.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hall, S.P.; Sullivan, J.B.; Petranka, J.W.; Backstrom, P.; Howard, T. (2022). "Acronicta oblinita (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Smeared Dagger". Raleigh: North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks. https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/moths/view.php?MONA_number=9272.00.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Childs, Ken. "Acronicta oblinita - Smeared Dagger Moth". in O'Connor, Marcie. https://www.buglifecycle.com/?page_id=3507.
External links
- "Species Details Acronicta oblinita". E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. April 7, 2003. https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2819.
Wikidata ☰ Q2162513 entry
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