Bug FAQHopeful Dagger
Acronicta sperata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Hopeful Dagger Moth
The hopeful dagger moth has a wingspan of about 30 to 35 mm. Adults are seen flying from May to June, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Acronicta sperata, called the hopeful dagger moth, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges between 30 and 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on poplar and alder trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from May to June, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period occurs in late spring to early summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to North America, covering the same region described for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 17 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania.
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 are hopeful dagger moths active?
Adults are typically seen flying from May through June, depending on the region.
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_sperata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-27 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-27.