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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Acronictinae » Dagger Moths (Acronicta) » American Dagger Moth - Hodges#9200 (Acronicta americana)
Photo#12924
Caterpillar. Dagger moth - Acronicta americana
Copyright © 2005 Beatriz Moisset

Caterpillar. Dagger moth - Acronicta americana
Fort Washington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA
August 19, 2004
Is this a dagger moth caterpillar?
Southeastern PA
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Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 14 March, 2005 - 1:14pm
Last updated 21 December, 2018 - 12:21pm

dagger moth
my son had picked up one of these caterpillars and i had never seem one till today and he informed me that after he had played with it he had gotten little bumps on his hand and i wasnt sure what that was from if anyone could tell me why he would have gotten them that would be great you can email me at dizzy_rayray@yahoo.com or leave it on here thanks alot
Desiree
… desiree spaulding, 23 September, 2008 - 10:49pm login or register to post comments

 
Irritant hairs
The best way to get answers is to place this question in the Forums: General. More people will see it there. But, I can already tell you that the function of this kind of hairs is self defense. They produce irritation, that is why your son got the bumps.
… Beatriz Moisset, 24 September, 2008 - 6:44am login or register to post comments

 
thanls
thank you very much for your responce i have never seen a caterpillar like this so i wasnt sure
… desiree spaulding, 24 September, 2008 - 10:19am login or register to post comments

Yes
It's the American Dagger Moth Acronicta americana.
… A.W. Thomas, 14 March, 2005 - 1:40pm login or register to post comments

 
Dagger moth
Thank you, that was fast.
… Beatriz Moisset, 14 March, 2005 - 1:53pm login or register to post comments

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