Bug FAQSplendid Dagger
Acronicta superans · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Splendid Dagger Moth
The adult moth has a wingspan of about four to four and a half centimeters. Adults can be seen flying from late spring through summer, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The wingspan measures roughly 40 to 45 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May to August, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When are adult Splendid Dagger moths active?
They are on the wing from May through August, depending on the area.
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_superans
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.