Grey Dagger

Taxobox
name = Grey Dagger

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Noctuidae
genus = "Acronicta"
species = "A. psi"
binomial = "Acronicta psi"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758The 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 Latin specific name also refers to these markings, as resembling the Greek letter "psi" ψ.) 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 ref|flight_season 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."

Recorded food plants

*"Acer" - Norway Maple
*"Aegopodium" - Ground-elder
*"Alnus" - Alder
*"Amelanchier"
*"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

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

External links

The Grey Dagger [http://www.uksafari.com/greydagger.htm moth] and [http://www.uksafari.com/greydagger2.htm caterpillar] at UK Safari (includes pictures).