Daggers and related species
What are they?
A group of mostly rather narrow-winged, largely gray species of moths but with often brightly-colored, spikely hairy larvae. The group gets its name from a black, dagger-like mark on the base of the wings near the shoulder on many species. The Brothers are included here as they are rather similar to the Daggers, but with somewhat broader wings, while the wood-nymphs are closely related but more brightly-colored and somewhat resemble bird-droppings at rest.
Identification
Though some species are distinctively colored or marked, many species follow a rather generic gray pattern and identification of less-than-perfect individuals can be problematic.
09193 The Brother Raphia frater
Length: 17-19mm. Flight Time: April-August. Larval Food: Willows and poplars (Salicaceae).
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09663 Three-lined Balsa Balsa tristigella
Length: 11-12mm. Flight Time: May-July. Larval Food: Woody members of the rose family.
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09211 Triton Dagger Acronicta tritona
Length: 18-20mm. Flight Time: April-October. Larval Food: Shrubby members of the Heath family (Ericaceae).
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09229 Speared Dagger Acronicta hasta
Length: 17-23mm. Flight Time: April-September. Larval Food: Cherries (Prunus spp.).
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09244 Medium Dagger Acronicta modica
Length: 18-22mm. Flight Time: May-July. Larval Food: Oak leaves (Quercus spp.).
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09257 Yellow-haired Dagger Acronicta impleta
Length: 21-27mm. Flight Time: May-July. Larval Food: A range of deciduous trees.
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09272 Smeared Dagger Acronicta oblinita
Length: 18-27mm. Flight Time: April-September. Larval Food: A wide range of both woody and herbaceous plants.
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09280 Henry's Marsh Moth Simyra insularis
Length: 20-22mm. Flight Time: April-October. Larval Food: A wide range of plants from grasses to trees, usually in wetland habitats.
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09285 The Hebrew Polygrammate hebraeicum
Length: 13-15mm. Flight Time: May-August. Larval Food: Leaves of Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica).
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09301 Beautiful Wood-nymph Eudryas grata
Length: 18-23mm. Flight Time: May-August. Larval Food: Vines and allies (Vitaceae).
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09314 Eight-spotted Forester Alypia octomaculata
Length: 16-20mm. Flight Time: June-September. Larval Food: Vines and allies (Vitaceae).
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