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Grey Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Acronicta psi

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55.6265, 12.1857

Field Notes

Description:

The Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found from Europe and North Africa to northern Iran, Central Asia, southern and central Siberia and Mongolia. In the Levant it is found in Lebanon and Israel.

The Caterpillar feeds on a wide range of plants, mainly trees and shrubs. The species overwinters as a pupa.

Habitat:

Decidious tree forest, feeding Thornapple species (Genus: Crataegus)

Notes:

In this spotting you can see an earlier stage of the caterpillar which looks quite different even though it's the same species: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/38310324

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (18)
FaredinAliyevski
We are just nature freaks :), did you see my other caterpillar?http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/37883028
Sintija Valucka
It really is a nice way of learning, I agree! :) and it's not so bad for the caterpillar, too! It is protected from predators and well fed :))
FaredinAliyevski
I think that's a nice way of learning, I also started this summer just to get to know the life cycle process better. I take the ones I find on the streets and raise them.
Sintija Valucka
hmm, they really change a lot!!! even color (I didn't notice that yours has that white line and mine hasn't)! O_o Amazing! I sometimes grow caterpillars if I can't identify the species, but I want to know what it will become :D :))
FaredinAliyevski
Had to check it again because when first I saw your spotting I thought it was forming the web to begin the pupa stage but then it looked really small compared to mine plus is lacking the white line just above the feet. But yes yours was preparing for pupal stage, I guess they change a lot at the last instar. Should have brought this caterpillar home to see all the process.
Sintija Valucka
it only looks small, because it is not outstreched :) and it looked like mine has already started to make a cocoon (there are small threads visible around it). :) So mine is older, and your educated guess is right :)) Interesting information!!! :)
FaredinAliyevski
Sorry it is educated guess but a wrong one. Of course yours is an early stage since it's a small one and mine was an old one. So yours needs to eat a lot so it can reach the pupa stage before winter comes otherwise it will die from the cold.
Jopy
haha I have to be concentrated on what i write, always confuse you :D you both have great find...
Sintija Valucka
That's a wild or educated guess? :) Or maybe it isn't a guess, but you know it for 100%?
FaredinAliyevski
Oh no that's true, jopy confused me :). Yours was the last stage, mine still needs to eat more :)
Sintija Valucka
actually you had to find the green one (Dot Moth Caterpillar) :P :) But this is also great!!!! :)) Interesting that it doesn't have so long hair, though it is the same! :)
Jopy
haha i believe you searched it today :D i can't decide which one like the most..
FaredinAliyevski
Hahaha, yea I had to because I said that to 'Sintija' so she doesn't laugh at me. It was a big surprise since I didn't expect to find it :). But I still like better the one sintija has :).
Jopy
you found it, like you said haha it's sooooo beautiful...!!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
European Butterflies and Moths
Mission
Moths of the World
Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
Danish wildlife
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 5, 2013

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