Genus Acronicta - Dagger Moths

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Range · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

large colorful CAT - Acronicta retardata

Afflicted Dagger Moth - Acronicta afflicta

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Subfamily Acronictinae

Genus Acronicta (Dagger Moths)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Acronicta Ochsenheimer, 1816

Acronycta Treitschke, 1825 (unjustified emendation)

Simyra Ochsenheimer, 1816 (1)

Explanation of Names

Generic epithet Acronicta is Greek meaning "the beginning of the night." (2)

Numbers

There are 86 recognized species of the genus Acronicta in America north of Mexico.(3)

Range

Represented throughout North America. Also occurs in Eurasia.

Remarks

A large genus generally difficult to identify to species

Print References

Schmidt, B.C. & G.G. Anweiler, 2020. Noctuidae (Part) Pantheinae, Raphiinae, Balsinae, Acronictinae. The Moths of North America, Fascicle 25.4: 1-479.(3)

Ochsenheimer, F. 1816. Die schmetterlinge von Europa: 81 (Simyra)

Internet References

pinned adult thumbnail images of 40 species occurring in eastern Canada (CBIF)

pinned adult thumbnail images of 36 species occurring in western Canada (CBIF)

Works Cited

1.	Phylogenetic relationships of Acronictinae with discussion of the abdominal courtship brush in Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) Jadranka Rota, Brigette V. Zacharczenko, Niklas Wahlberg, Reza Zahiri, B.C. Schmidt, and David L. Wagner. 2015. Systematic Entomology.

2.	An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names. Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.

3.	Noctuoidea Noctuidae (Part) Pantheinae, Raphiinae, Balsinae, Acronictinae Schmidt, B.C. & G.G. Anweiler. 2020. The Moths of North America.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Steve Nanz, Robin McLeod, Maury Heiman, Randy Hardy, Kyhl Austin, Blocky
Last updated 4 May, 2023 - 2:37pm

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