Grey Dagger Totally Explained

Everything about The Grey Dagger totally explained

The 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 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 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 - ElmFurther Information

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