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Noctuidae : Acronictinae

Sycamore

ACRONICTA (Acronicta) aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 41-49mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not including Ireland and some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: South-east and central southern England including East Anglia - well distributed and fairly frequent : South-west England and south-west Wales,east Midlands,south Yorkshire and Cheshire - Local : Channel Isles - Jersey - widespread and frequent - rest of Channel Isles - rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Local = 101 - 300  10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Acronicta
  • Phalana leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: South - May - August : Elsewhere - mid June -early August
Habitat: Urban Areas : Parks : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Poplar Grey - Subacronicta megacephala - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
  • Sweet Gale Moth - Acronicta cinerea -  (Hufnagel, 1766)
Larva: The 40mm final instar is easily recognised with its grey body, covered with tufts of long orange and yellow setae with a series of white spots ringed with black along the dorsal area.Head is pale brown with black streaks.
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The main identification for this moth is seen with the  subterminal cross line which is "S" shaped and made up of pale grey blocks which is not seen in either of the similar moths.
The forewings of the female are broad but narrower in the male. The forewings are grey with dark grey to black freckling and orbicular spot clearly marked,ringed in dark grey. Just behind the head tufts there are two opposed concave, thin dark grey, short lines.

The moth is attracted to light,sugar and flowers.
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - ACRONICTA:

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Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Acronictinae
Acronictini
ACRONICTA Ochsenheimer 1816
acronicta Ochsenheimer 1816
Acronicta (Acronicta) aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalana leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Noctua infuscata Haworth, 1809
= Acronycta paradoxa Boisduval, 1829
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Phalaena aceris aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.514 - n.98
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Europe