Bug FAQEclipsed Oak Dagger
Acronicta inclara · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Unclear Dagger Moth
The Eclipsed Oak Dagger moth has a wingspan of about 28 to 36 mm. It lives across the southern parts of Canada and the United States, reaching down to Florida and Texas. Adults are on the wing from May through September, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 28 mm to 36 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout the southern regions of Canada and the United States, extending to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae probably feed on oak leaves (Quercus species).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from May to September, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period spans May through September depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Some authors treat Acronicta increta as a synonym of Acronicta inclara.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 24 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult Eclipsed Oak Dagger moths?
Adults are on the wing from May through September, depending on the location.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae probably feed on the leaves of oak trees (Quercus species).
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It is distributed across the southern parts of Canada and the United States, reaching down to Florida and Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronicta_increta
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.