Grey dagger


The grey dagger is a moth of the family Noctuidae.

Distribution

This species can be found from Europe and North Africa to northern Iran, central Asia, southern and central Siberia and Mongolia. In the Levant it is found in Lebanon and Israel.

Habitat

These moths mainly inhabit deciduous forests, hedgerows, parks and gardens, at an elevation up to above sea level.

Description

Acronicta psi has a wingspan of. These moths have grey forewings with bold black dagger-shaped markings. The hindwings are dirty grey, generally paler in the male.
The moth is very similar to the dark dagger and identification is generally only possible by minute examination of the genitalia. See Townsend et al. 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. Moreover, the larvae of the two species are very different.
Image:Buckler W The larvæ of the British [butterflies and moths PlateLVI.jpg|thumb|left|Figures 2, 2a, 2b show larvae after their final moult]
The larva of Acronicta psi is quite hairy, greyish or brownish below and black above, with red spots along the sides and a bold yellow stripe along the back. It has a distinctive horn just behind the head.

Biology

The grey dagger flies at night from June to August and is attracted to light and sometimes to sugar.
It feeds on a wide range of plants, mainly trees and shrubs. The species overwinters as a pupa.

Food plants

Recorded food plants include: