| Grey dagger | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Acronicta |
| Species: | A. psi |
| Binomial name | |
| Acronicta psi | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The grey dagger (Acronicta psi) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.
This species can be found from Europe [1] and North Africa to northern Iran, central Asia, southern and central Siberia and Mongolia. In the Levant it is found in Lebanon and Israel.
These moths mainly inhabit deciduous forests, hedgerows, parks and gardens, at an elevation up to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above sea level. [2]
Acronicta psi has a wingspan of 34–45 mm (1.3–1.8 in). [3] These moths have grey forewings with bold black dagger-shaped markings. (The Latin specific name also refers to these markings, as resembling the Greek letter psi, ψ.) [3] The hindwings are dirty grey, generally paler in the male.
The moth is very similar to the dark dagger (Acronicta tridens) and identification is generally only possible by minute examination of the genitalia. [3] See Townsend et al. [4] However, in general this moth is generally darker in colour than the dark dagger and always lacks the white hindwings often present in the male of that species. Moreover, the larvae of the two species are very different.
The larva of Acronicta psi is quite hairy, greyish or brownish below and black above, with red spots along the sides and a bold yellow stripe along the back. It has a distinctive horn just behind the head (absent from the larva of dark dagger).
The grey dagger flies at night from June to August [lower-alpha 1] [3] and is attracted to light and sometimes to sugar.
It feeds on a wide range of plants, mainly trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.
Recorded food plants include: [5]
Saturnia pavonia, the small emperor moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Sometimes, the incorrect genus name Pavonia is still used for this species. This moth occurs throughout the Palearctic region and is the only member of its family to be found in the British Isles, where it is usually called simply the emperor moth.
The common marbled carpet is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is sometimes placed in the genus Chloroclysta. It is very common throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767.
The scalloped hazel is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759.
The scalloped oak is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
The mottled beauty is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
The coxcomb prominent is a moth of the family Notodontidae. It is a common species throughout the Palearctic realm from Ireland to Japan. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Aporia crataegi, the black-veined white, is a large butterfly of the family Pieridae. A. crataegi is widespread and common. Its range extends from northwest Africa in the west to Transcaucasia and across the Palearctic to Siberia and Japan in the east. In the south, it is found in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Syria. It is not usually present in the British Isles or northern Scandinavia.
The Hebrew character is a moth in the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found throughout Europe.
The miller is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe apart from the far south-east. The range extends from the South of Spain, Central Italy and Bulgaria to Scotland and Central Scandinavia, crossing the Arctic circle in Finland and Norway. Outside Europe it is only known in North Africa. In the Eastern Palearctic and the Nearctic realm it is replaced by Acronicta vulpina, formerly known as Acronicta leporina subspecies vulpina.
The dark dagger is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It is distributed throughout Europe, Turkey, the Near East, the European part of Russia, southern Siberia, the Ural, the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, China and Japan (Hokkaido).
Panonychus ulmi, the European red mite, is a species of mite which is a major agricultural pest of fruit trees. It has a high reproductive rate, a short generation time and produces many broods in a year, all of which contribute to its pest status. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, and a very wide host range, having been found on the following plants:
Chloroclysta siterata, the red-green carpet, is a moth in the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767.
Lomographa temerata, the clouded silver, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found in Asia and Europe and was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775.
Ptycholoma lecheana, the Leche's twist moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in Europe, China, Korea, Japan, Russia and Asia Minor.
The March dagger moth is a moth of the subfamily Chimabachinae. It is found in Europe and was first described by Michael Denis & Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775.
Coleophora anatipennella is a moth of the case-bearer family (Coleophoridae).
Trichiura crataegi, the pale eggar or pale oak eggar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found in all of Europe, east to Anatolia and east across the Palearctic to Amur.
Leucoptera malifoliella, the pear leaf blister moth, ribbed apple leaf miner or apple leaf miner, is a moth of the Lyonetiidae family that can be found in all of Europe.
Chloroclysta miata, the autumn green carpet, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is found from most of Europe to the Alatau in Central Asia.
Pandemis limitata, the three-lined leafroller, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and from the east coast west to the Rocky Mountains and Arizona. It has also been recorded from Durango in Mexico.
