Bug FAQFragile Dagger
Acronicta fragilis · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: fragile dagger moth
The fragile dagger moth has a wingspan of about 30 mm. It lives across North America from Newfoundland down to Florida and west to the Canadian provinces, reaching as far south as Kentucky and Minnesota. Adults are on the wing in early summer, typically from June to July depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Acronicta fragilis, called the fragile dagger moth, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 30 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout North America from Newfoundland to Florida, extending west across Canada and south to Kentucky and Minnesota.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of apple, birch, plum, willow and white spruce trees.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adult moths are active from June through July, with exact timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same North American region, from eastern Canada down to the southeastern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 26 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Montana, Minnesota, West Virginia, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult fragile dagger moths?
Adults fly in early summer, usually from June to July, though the exact weeks depend on where you are.
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_fragilis
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.