Bug FAQStreaked Dagger
Acronicta lithospila · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Also called: Streaked Dagger Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The streaked dagger moth has a wingspan of about 35 mm and belongs to the Noctuidae family. Adults fly from June through August, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Acronicta lithospila, known as the streaked dagger moth, was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures roughly 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in parts of Canada such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario, as well as U.S. states including Georgia, Maryland, and Oklahoma.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae eat the leaves of hickory, oak, and chestnut trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from June to August, with timing varying by location.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period spans the summer months, typically June through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to eastern Canada and the United States, found in the same provinces and states listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Massachusetts, Mississippi, Connecticut, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maine, Ohio.
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 can I see adult streaked dagger moths?
Adults are active from June through August, depending on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on hickory, oak, and chestnut leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this moth found?
It lives in eastern Canada and the United States, including provinces like Nova Scotia and states such as Georgia.
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_lithospila
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.