Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Acronictinae » Dagger Moths (Acronicta) » Pleasant Dagger - Hodges#9227 (Acronicta laetifica)

Species Acronicta laetifica - Pleasant Dagger - Hodges#9227

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References · Works Cited
Acronicta laetifica WI051515 - 1 - Acronicta laetifica Noctuidae: Acronicta laetifica - Acronicta laetifica Noctuidae, Pleasant Dagger - Acronicta laetifica Pleasant Dagger - Acronicta laetifica Caterpillar - Acronicta laetifica Pennsylvania Moth - Acronicta laetifica Acronicta - Acronicta laetifica
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)
Species laetifica (Pleasant Dagger - Hodges#9227)
Hodges Number
9227
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Acronicta laetifica Smith, 1897
Numbers
Uncommon to rare
Size
Wingspan 37-43 mm (1)
Identification
Similar to interrupta, hasta, and lobeliae
Range
Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Texas, north to Manitoba (1)
Season
Adults fly from May to July in Ohio; April to October in the south (1)
Food
Larvae feed on American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and possibly American Hazelnut (Corylus americana).
Use of Hickory (Carya species) (1)
Life Cycle
Two or more generations in the south; one in the north (1)
Internet References
Moth Photographers Group – images of live and pinned adults (2)
BOLD Systems - images of DNA supported specimens (3)
Wikipedia - brief description (1)
pinned adult image (CBIF)
pinned adult image (Larry Line, Maryland)
common name reference plus food plant and flight season (Ohio State U.)
Works Cited
1.Wikipedia
2.North American Moth Photographers Group
3.BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data Systems
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 3 November, 2005 - 6:10pm
Additional contributions by Ethan Kistler, Robert Lord Zimlich, George Smiley, Blocky
Last updated 4 May, 2023 - 2:31pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact