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Acronicta oblinita, the smeared dagger moth or arioch dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Its larva, the smartweed caterpillar, has urticating hairs.[1] The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.[2][3]

Acronicta oblinita
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Acronicta
Species:	A. oblinita
Binomial name
Acronicta oblinita (J. E. Smith, 1797)
Synonyms
Acronicta arioch (Strecker, 1898)

Description

The smeared dagger moth adult has a wingspan of 3.6–5.4 centimetres (1.4–2.1 in).[1] The forewings have a mottled gray appearance, with orbicular and reniform spots on each dorsal surface that are incompletely outlined and indistinct.[1] Smeared-appearing dark wedge spots are present along the postmedial line with their apices pointed inward.[4] There is a terminal line of dark spots on the forewing.[1] The hindwings are white and also have small dark spots along their terminal line.[1]

The larva is a caterpillar up to 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long that bears numerous tufts of irritating setae on wart-like protruberances along its thoracic and abdominal segments.[1] There are bright yellow blotches in the shape of carets (inverted "V" shapes) between the laterally-positioned spiracles.[1][5]

Range

The smeared dagger moth is found across Canada as far north as Lake Athabasca.[6] In the United States, the moth is found in the Pacific Northwest[4] and east of the Rocky Mountains south to Florida and Texas.[6][7]

Habitat

Habitats include bogs and coastal marshes in the Pacific Northwest[4] and wetlands, forests and meadows more generally.[6] Individuals have been collected in boreal forests in Canada.[6]

Life cycle

The smeared dagger moth has one to two generations per year.[1][8] In the coastal plain of North Carolina, adults can be seen beginning in early March through late June and again from mid-August until early October.[8] Caterpillars may pupate within folded leaves of their host plant.[9] Overwintering occurs as pupae.[1]

Host plants

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Larval hosts:

• Salix spp.[6]
• Alnus spp.[6]
• Fragaria spp.[6]
• Typha spp.[6]
• Chamaenerion angustifolium[6]
• Polygonum spp.[4][9]

References

External links

• Anweiler, G. G. & Schmidt, B. C. (April 7, 2003). "Species Details Acronicta oblinita". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
• Media related to Acronicta oblinita at Wikimedia Commons

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