Acronicta psi – Nature Journeys

Spotlight on The Grey Dagger Acronicta psi

There are two very similar ‘dagger’ species in Britain, the Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) and the Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens). The adults cannot be accurately identified visually without genital dissection and microscopic scrutiny – but I don’t like to harm them so this adult would be recorded as an aggregate species Acronicta psi/tridens. The adult is readily attracted to light, and is seen in June and August in most habitats, including woodland, hedgerows and gardens. Sadly its numbers have significantly decreased in recent decades.

The caterpillar is quite an odd thing, and on first discovery I thought it had been parasitised! But the long and prounced ‘hump’ or fleshy projection is one of its defining characteristics and which visually separtes it from the Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens) which has a shorter ‘hump’. A visually striking moth larva with long hairs and a yellow or white dorsal strip. The orange side patches offer quite a contrast in colouration. It feeds on a large range of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, and overwinters as a pupa amongst bark, in rotten wood or in the ground.

10/2110/21 by Peter Hillman Categories: Caterpillars, Insects, MothsTags: Acronicta psi, Grey Dagger, Insects, Macro, Macro Photography, Moths, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 13 Comments

Grey Dagger

Acronicta psi – This moth gets it name from the black dagger-like markings on its forewings. It is not possible to tell apart from the Dark Dagger (A. tridens), without genitalia dissection (which is not my thing) and is normally recorded as an aggregate species. It is found in most habitats, including woodland, hedgerows and gardens.

03/20 by Peter Hillman Categories: Insects, Macro Moths, MothsTags: Acronicta psi, Grey Dagger, Insects, Moths, Nature Photography 15 Comments

Noctuidae

Noctuidae is from Latin, noctua, meanining “night owl”. The Noctuid moths are the largest family of macro-moths in the British Isles and has over 400 species. Globally there are about 21,000 species which are widespread across many continents. There are 14 main British subfamilies, including the Rustics, Underwings, Darts, Quakers, Snouts and many more. These owlet moths belong to the superfamily Noctuoidea, but the family Noctuidae contains some of the worlds largest moths, and the smallest, with wingspans ranging from 0.8cm to 30.5cm.

Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea — Bright-line Brown-eye *Lacanobia oleracea*

Owlet Moths are mainly medium sized, stout-bodied macro-moths, which are predominantly brown or greyish, some with distinct kidney or oval shapes on their forewings which are useful for identifying similar species. Some have quite bright underwings (actually called Underwings) whilst others, like the Snouts, maybe confused with Geometers such is their shape and pose when resting. But most Noctuid moths rest with their wings held closed and close to the body in a triangular, tent-like fashion.

Broad-barred White Hecatera bicolorata — Broad-barred White *Hecatera bicolorata*

Night fliers, fast and powerful, drinking nectar from flowers, sap or fruit to keep themselves fuelled up. They are very much attracted to light, and it is most likely one of these that fly through the window at night or buzz around your head when out after dark. Others though, like the Silver Y, maybe seen sipping nectar late in the evening, or even earlier on a hot summer’s day. The caterpillars are typically bald and fat-bodied, and feed at night. Most feed on the stems, leaves and roots of broadleaved herabceous plants, and some on the leaves of trees and shrubs. Some called ‘cutworms’ feed on grasses, and can be serious pests to cereal crops severing roots and stems clean through.