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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae
931477.4 – 9259   Acronicta noctivaga (Grote, 1864)
             Night-Wandering Dagger

© Nolie Schneider
Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Apocynaceae Ericaceae Fagaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae.  Host genera: Apocynum Populus Quercus Salix Spiraea Vaccinium.  Host extended: primary host plants in Salicaceae (Schmidt & Anweiler 2020); polyphagous on herbs (Forbes 1954); pro...  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • noctivaga (Grote, 1864) (Acronycta) - MONA 1983: 9259; TL: Pennsylvania.
  • 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: 230; pl. A-16, figs. 1-8 (adult); pl. 27, fig. 4 (♂ gen.); pl. 43, fig. 3 (♀ gen.); pl. L-15, fig. 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 Block Island Moths
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at Mass Moths
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    Acronicta noctivaga
    © Janice Stiefel
    Acronicta noctivaga
    © Tom Murray
    Acronicta noctivaga
    LG – © Jim Troubridge
    Acronicta noctivaga
    32mm – © Jim Vargo
    Acronicta noctivaga
    © Janice Stiefel
    5th instar
    Acronicta noctivaga
    © John G. Franclemont CUIC LG

    Acronicta noctivaga
    © John G. Franclemont CUIC LG


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