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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931425 – 9205   Acronicta lepusculina (Guenée, 1852)              Cottonwood Dagger

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Betulaceae Salicaceae.  Host genera: Betula Populus Salix.  Host extended: primarily Populus & Salix (Powell & Opler 2009); specialist on Salicaceae (Crabo et al 2014); polyph...  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: lepusculina (Guenée, 1852) (Acronycta) - MONA 1983: 9205; TL: [Eastern North America]. canadensis (Smith & Dyar, 1898) (Acronycta) chionochroa (Hampson, 1909) (Acronycta) cinderella (Smith, 1897) (Acronycta) cretata (Smith, 1897) (Acronycta) felina (Grote, 1879) (Apatela) frigida (Smith, 1897) (Acronycta) pacifica (Smith, 1897) (Acronycta) populi (Riley, 1870) (Acronycta) similana (Smith, 1905) (Acronycta) tonitra (Smith, 1908) (Acronycta) transversata (Smith, 1897) (Acronycta)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history) Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 50.37m; p. 282. Book Review and ordering Schmidt, B.C. & G.G. Anweiler, 2020. Noctuidae (Part) Pantheinae, Raphiinae, Balsinae, Acronictinae. The Moths of North America, Fascicle 25.4: 163; pl. A-11, figs. 7-11 (adult); pl. 21, fig. 1 (♂ gen.); pl. 38, fig. 6 (♀ gen.); pl. L-7, figs. 7, 8 (larva) (order). Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist Species page at Moths of North Dakota.

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– © Gary Anweiler 38mm – © Jim Vargo 40mm - UT - DNA – © Jim Vargo

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