Bug FAQOchre Dagger
Acronicta morula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Ochre Dagger Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The ochre dagger moth (Acronicta morula) belongs to the Noctuidae family. Its larvae eat the leaves of elm, basswood, apple and hawthorn, which can harm those trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The adult’s wingspan measures about 40 to 50 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of elm, basswood, apple and hawthorn species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April through September, producing two or more generations depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults appear from April to September, with multiple generations in many areas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes eastern Canada and the United States, from Saskatchewan eastward to Nova Scotia and south to Florida, extending west to Texas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 36 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Vermont, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee.
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
What do ochre dagger moth caterpillars eat?
They feed on the leaves of elm, basswood, apple and hawthorn trees.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult ochre dagger moths active?
Adults fly from April through September, often in two or more generations.
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_morula
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.