Acronicta fragilis, the fragile dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in North America from Newfoundland to Florida, west across Canada, south to Kentucky and Minnesota. It is listed as a species of special concern in the US state of Connecticut.[1]

Acronicta fragilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Acronicta
Species:
A. fragilis
Binomial name
Acronicta fragilis
Guenée, 1852
Synonyms
  • Acronicta spectans
  • Acronicta atrior

The wingspan is about 30 mm. Adults are on wing from June to July depending on the location.

The larvae feed on apple, birch, plum, willow, and white spruce.[2]

Subspecies

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  • Acronicta fragilis minella
  • Acronicta fragilis fragiloides

References

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  1. ^ "Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015". State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Lotts, Kelly & Naberhaus, Thomas (2017). "Fragile Dagger Moth Acronicta fragilis (Guenee, 1852)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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