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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Noctuidae 931482 – 9268   Acronicta perdita (Grote, 1874)              Pacific Dagger

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Distribution: Canada: southern BC; USA: WA, ID, MT, OR, northern CA south to Santa Clara and Tulare counties. Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Ericaceae Rhamnaceae Rosaceae Salicaceae.  Host genera: Amelanchier Arctostaphylos Ceanothus Heteromeles Malus Purshia Salix.  Host extended: primary host plants in Rosaceae (Schmidt & Anweiler 2020).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: 931484 Acronicta othello: has a smudgy appearance and is found in southern CA. 931477 Acronicta impressa Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: perdita (Grote, 1874) (Acronycta) - MONA 1983: 9268; TL: California.

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. Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 50.40f; p. 283. 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: 235; pl. A-18, figs. 13-16 (adult); pl. 28, fig. 1 (♂ gen.); pl. 43, fig. 6 (♀ gen.); pl. L-14, fig. 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 Pacific Northwest Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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