73.038 : 2284 : 8777
Noctuidae : Acronictinae

Grey Dagger agg.

ACRONICTA (Triaena) psi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 30-40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : North Africa : Northern Iran : Central Asia : Southern & Central Siberia : Mongolia : Lebanon : Israel
UK Distridution: Resident : Well distributed in England : Wales : Ireland : Isle of Man : Channel Isles : Lowlands of Scotland
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares 
  • BAP : 2007 - Priority Species 
  • NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity"
  • Northern Ireland : 2010 - Priority Species
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena Noctua psi (Linnaeus 1758)
Type Species - Acronicta
  • Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: Mid May-August-single generation : South-partial second brood-September-October
Habitat: Many habitat types including-Woodland : Gardens : Hedgerows : Heathland : Calcareous grassland : Fens
Similar Species -
  • Dark Dagger Acronicta tridens ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Larva: July-early October-single generation : July-early September & September early November-two generations.Larva is covered in fine hairs giving partial protection from predators.Side view-From spiracles below the larva is white. Above spiracle is a broad black lateral line that is spliced by the abdominal segment fine yellow crease.The black line incorporates a small tuft on top of the larva at the rear and a larger hairy tuft on top situated in the centre/top of the third abdominal segment.At either side of the abdominal segments are short red vertical lines in the black line.Top view-A broad yellow lateral line adjoins the black lateral lines.
Pupa: Overwinters as pupa
Overwinters as: Pupa in cocoon in rotten wood or bark.
Observations: It is impossible in the field to differentiate between the Grey Dagger A.psi and Dark Dagger A.tridens , therefore the difference between the moths can only be confirmed by dissection and study of the genatalia, although the larvae are easily confirmed.
At both ends of the grey shades between light and dark individuals usually result in the moth being a Grey Dagger.

The moth comes to light and sugar and is another moth to be fund imbibing at flowers.

The larvae of the Grey Dagger are polyphageous feeding on a wide variety of plant genera.



Photo Gallery


Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Laval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - ACRONICTA:

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Synonyms:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Acronictinae
Acronictini
ACRONICTA Ochsenheimer, 1816
Triaena Hübner, 1818
Acronicta (Triaena) psi (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) psi (Linnaeus 1758)
= Phalaena psi Linnaeus, 1758
= Phalaena Noctua psi Linnaeus, 1758
= Acronycta psi batnana Draudt, 1931
= Acronycta psi iliensis Draudt, 1931
= Acronicta psi crassistriga Lattin, 1938
= Acronycta psi solimana Draudt, 1938
= Acronycta psi tehrana Wiltshire, 1946
= Apatele perisi Calle, 1974.
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.514 - n.96
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Not Specified
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Triaena psi