"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
Connected Dagger Moth
Acronicta connecta fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9219)
Host plant(s): willow (Salix sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: A specialist on willows
Ruddy Dagger Moth
Acronicta rubricoma fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9199)
Host plant(s): hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Date(s) and location(s): 07 Sep, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Also known to host on elm and sumac.
The Laugher
Charadra deridens fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9189)
Host plant(s): chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Date(s) and location(s): 13 Sep, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: My first find of a caterpillar of this species.
Streaked Dagger Moth
Acronicta lithospila fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9266)
Host plant(s): red oak (Quercus sp.), shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria)
Date(s) and location(s): 30 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 6 Sep, 2025 – Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO; 13 Sep, 2025 – Don Robinson State Park, Jefferson County, MO
Notes: This species host primarily on Fagaceae (oaks, beech) and is stunning in both larval and adult forms.
Interrupted Dagger
Acronicta interrupta fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9237)
Host plant(s): Found on elm (Ulmus sp.)
Date(s) and location(s): 31 Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: The first of this species I have found.
Yellow-haired Dagger
Acronicta impleta fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9257)
Host plant: Found on red oak (Quercus sp.)
Dates and locations: 23, Aug, 2025 – Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; 06, Sep, 2026 – Babler State Park, St. Louis County, MO
Notes: Batesian mimicry, a form of mimicry wherein a harmless species has evolved to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species in order to benefit from these signals’ tendency to deter their mutual predators, is common among adult moths and butterflies. However, it has been found to be rare in caterpillars. The yellow-haired dagger seems to be a rare case of this defense in caterpillars as it seems to mimic tussock moth caterpillars (Dasychira, Orgyia) in both appearance and behavior.
Spotted Phosphila
Phosphila miselioides fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9619)
Host plant: Found on greenbrier (Smilax sp.)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: Two species of Phosphila can be found in Missouri. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
Tufted Bird Dropping Moth
Cerma cerintha fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9062)
Host plant: Host plant not recorded but species is known to feed on Rosaceae Family members
Date found: 16, Aug,, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: As should be obvious by the common name, the adults of this moth are bird dropping mimics. These caterpillars tunnel into soft wood at the end of the season where they overwinter as a pupa.
Cherry Dagger
Acronicta hasta fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9229)
Host plant: Two individuals at different instars were found at this location and date – both on black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
The Hebrew
Polygrammate hebraeicum fam. Noctuidae (Hodges#9285)
Host plant: black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Date found: 16, Aug, 2025
Location found: Council Bluff Lake, Iron County, MO
Notes: Common and specific names come from apparent resemblance of adult moth’s pattern to Hebrew characters. This was found during the WGNSS joint Entomology and Nature Photography Groups’ outing to Council Bluff Lake.
