Grey Dagger

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Grey Dagger

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Acronicta
Species:	A. psi

Binomial name

Acronicta psi
Linnaeus, 1758

The Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.

This species has grey forewings with bold black dagger-shaped markings. The hindwings are dirty grey, generally paler in the male. The wingspan is 34-45 mm. This moth is very similar to the Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens) and identification is generally only possible by minute examination of the genitalia. However, in general this moth is generally darker in colour than the Dark Dagger and always lacks the white hindwings often present in the male of that species. The larvae of the two species are very different (see below). The Grey Dagger flies at night from June to August ^[1] and is attracted to light and sometimes to sugar.

The larva is whitish below and black above with red spots and a bold yellow stripe along the back. It has a distinctive horn just behind the head (absent from the larva of Dark Dagger). It feeds on a wide range of plants, mainly trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa.

^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] Recorded food plants

Acer - Norway Maple
Aegopodium - Ground-elder
Alnus - Alder
Amelanchier - Serviceberry
Betula - Birch
Corylus - Hazel
Cotoneaster
Crataegus - Hawthorn
Malus - Apple
Populus - Poplar
Prunus
Pyrus - Pear
Quercus - Oak
Rosa - Rose
Rubus
Salix - Willow
Sorbus
Spiraea
Tilia - Lime
Ulmus - Elm

[edit] References

Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984