Bug FAQImpressive Dagger
Acronicta impressa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Impressed Dagger, printed dagger
The impressive dagger moth has a wingspan of about 38 mm. It lives from western Canada down through north-western Mexico. Adults are on the wing from early to midsummer, depending on where they are found.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Acronicta impressa, called the impressive dagger or willow dagger moth, belongs to the Noctuidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 38 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on plants such as bitterbrush, rose, aspen, poplar and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults emerge and fly from early to midsummer, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period is early to midsummer, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range extends from western Canada down to north-western Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 40 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Washington, New Hampshire.
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 are adult impressive dagger moths active?
Adults are on the wing from early to midsummer, with timing varying by location.
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_impressa
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.