RASPBERRY BUD DAGGER MOTH
Acronicta increta
OWLET MOTHS (Noctuidae)
Description
The Raspberry Bud Dagger Moth has a total length of 5/8 inch (15-20 mm). The forewing is brown with darker brown shading in the basal area. The middle section of the wing is tan with the orbicular spot ringed with black. There is dark shading in the anal angle and two or three dark blotches along the costal margin. The hindwing is plain, light brown. The larva is variably green, yellowish, pinkish or orange with paired white, triangular spots. It has sparse whitish hairs. It grows to about 1.25 inches.
Occurrence
The frequency of occurrence of the Raspberry Bud Dagger Moth is not known. It has been photographed at Fontenelle Forest in late July 2014 coming to artificial lights. There is one generation a year.
Comments
Other common names for this moth are Small Oak Dagger and Southern Oak Dagger Moth. The larvae eat the leaves of oak and chestnut. They feed at night and rest during the day on the underside of a leaf or in a leaf shelter.
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is: Babs Padelford.
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