Acronicta is a genus of noctuid moths containing about 150 species distributed mainly in the temperate Holarctic, with some in adjacent subtropical regions. The genus was erected by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Caterpillars of most Acronicta species are unmistakable, with brightly colored hairy spikes, and often feed quite visibly on common foliate trees. The hairy spikes may contain poison, which cause itchy, painful, swollen rash in humans on contact. The larva of the smeared dagger moth is unusually hairy even for this genus. Acronicta species are generally known as dagger moths, as most have one or more black dagger-shaped markings on their forewing uppersides. But some species have a conspicuous dark ring marking instead.
Acronicta lanceolaria, the lanceolate dagger moth or pointed dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It is found in North America, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. It is listed as a species of special concern and believed extirpated in the US state of Connecticut.
Acronicta oblinita, the smeared dagger moth or arioch dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797. It is found in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west across Canada to British Columbia, north to Lake Athabasca and south to Florida and Texas.
Acronicta tritona, the Triton dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. It is found in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to north-eastern Alberta, south to Florida and Texas, and west to Oregon.
Acronicta lepusculina, the cottonwood dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in most of eastern North America, west through southern Canada to Vancouver Island and southward.
Catocala meskei, or Meske's underwing, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found in North America from Maine and Quebec west to southern Alberta and Montana, south to South Carolina in the east and at least Montana in the west.
Acronicta dactylina, the fingered dagger moth or alder dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874. It is found from Newfoundland west to the Pacific coast and Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, south to North Carolina and Colorado.
Acronicta hasta, the forked dagger moth, speared dagger moth, cherry dagger moth or dart dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in North America in the eastern deciduous woodlands, ranging west across southern Saskatchewan and Alberta into central southern British Columbia, south to Tennessee, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Acronicta impressa, the impressive dagger moth or willow dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1856. It is found from western Canada to north-western Mexico.
Acronicta interrupta, the interrupted dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found across southern Canada south of the boreal forest, from New Brunswick west to eastern Alberta, south to Georgia, Nebraska and Arizona.
Acronicta longa, the long-winged dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found across much of North America, with Nova Scotia, Alberta, Florida, and Texas within is range.
Acronicta radcliffei, or Radcliffe's dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Leon F. Harvey in 1875. It is found in eastern and southern North America.
Acronicta vulpina, the vulpina dagger moth or miller dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. It is found in North America from New York and Newfoundland west to central British Columbia, south to Colorado.
Sympistis glennyi is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found in western North America from the mountains of southern Alberta west to British Columbia and south at least to Colorado and California.
Schinia persimilis, the persimilis flower moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found from in western North America from east central Alberta and the Cypress Hills in Saskatchewan north to the southern Yukon, west and south to Colorado, Utah, California and Oregon.
Schinia suetus is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is widespread in the mountains of western North America, from southern Alberta west to British Columbia, south at least to Colorado and California, east to Idaho and New Mexico.
Acronicta lupini, the lupine dagger or little bear, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found from Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon in Canada, south to California.
Colocasia propinquilinea, the closebanded yellowhorn, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found in North America from Newfoundland and Labrador, west across the southern edge of the boreal forest to central Alberta, south to North Carolina, Missouri and Arkansas.
Feltia herilis, the herald dart or Master's dart, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found in North America from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, north to the Northwest Territories border and south to the Gulf Coast.
Actebia balanitis is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. It is found from north-east Alaska and western Yukon east to east central Saskatchewan and north central South Dakota, south to northern Colorado and west to central Washington and the dry interior of British Columbia. The wingspan is 36–40 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August depending on the location. There is one generation per year.
