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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931427.1 – 9241   Acronicta fragilis (Guenée, 1852)              Fragile Dagger

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Betulaceae Nyssaceae[Cornaceae] Rosaceae Salicaceae.  Host genera: Alnus Amelanchier Betula Crataegus Malus Nyssa Prunus Pyrus Rosa Sorbus Salix.  Host extended: primary host plants in Betulaceae, Rosaceae & Salicaceae (Schmidt & Anweiler 2020); polyphagous on t...  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: fragilis (Guenée, 1852) (Microcoelia) - MONA 1983: 9241; TL: New York. atrior Franclemont, 1938 (Acronicta) fragiloides (Barnes & Benjamin, 1924) (Apatela) minella (Dyar, 1898) (Apatela) spectans (Walker, 1861) (Bryophila)

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. Schmidt, B.C. & G.G. Anweiler, 2020. Noctuidae (Part) Pantheinae, Raphiinae, Balsinae, Acronictinae. The Moths of North America, Fascicle 25.4: 170; pl. A-12, figs. 36-45 (adult); pl. 21, fig. 4 (♂ gen.); pl. 38, fig. 9 (♀ gen.); pl. L-8, 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

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