American Dagger Moth
Acronicta americana (Harris, 1841)
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Acronictinae
Identification: The region's largest dagger moth, easily recognized by its large size and typical dagger moth pattern. Forewing usually has sharp pm. line; only black dash is in anal area. Hindwing gray with darker median line.
Wing Span: 5-6.5 cm.
Life History:
Flight: April-September; 2 or more broods.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many trees such as alders, ashes, birches, elms, hickories, maples, oaks, poplars, walnuts, and willows.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Throughout Eastern North America.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 967 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 08, 2026
Submitted by: cskipper
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 11, 2026
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: Kate and Tucker
Region: Orange County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jul 02, 2026
Submitted by: David Trently
Region: Steuben County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 05, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 01, 2026
Observation date: Jun 27, 2026
Submitted by: nattyfait
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 28, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
Observation date: Jun 23, 2026
Submitted by: forestbrant@com...
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 19, 2026
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2026
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 15, 2026
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Michele Pollock
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 12, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2024
Submitted by: quincynat
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: I Fox
Region: Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: I Fox
Region: Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: nightjarring
Region: Dickinson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 23, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2025
Submitted by: Falcon5177
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 14, 2025
Observation date: Sep 30, 2025
Submitted by: loritierney
Region: Emmet County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 01, 2025
Observation date: Sep 28, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 16, 2025
Observation date: Sep 12, 2025
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 13, 2025
Submitted by: lalondesa
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 05, 2025
Submitted by: leskokid
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 03, 2025
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