Dark Dagger
Acronicta tridens
The dark dagger is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775.
43
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Gábor Keresztes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gábor Keresztes
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Noctuidae
Genus
Acronicta
Dark Dagger belongs to the family Noctuidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The dark dagger is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. It is distributed throughout Europe, Turkey, the Near East, the European part of Russia, southern Siberia, the Ural, the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, China and Japan (Hokkaido).
The Dark Dagger moth faces significant population pressures from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which reduces availability of its host plants and suitable breeding sites. Climate change is altering the timing of larval development and host plant phenology, creating mismatches that affect reproductive success.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Occupies deciduous and mixed woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens where host plants including birch, alder, and various fruit trees are present. Adults are attracted to artificial lights and can be found in suburban areas with sufficient vegetation cover.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Loss of native woodland and hedgerow habitats
Climate change impacts on host plant synchronization
Urban development and light pollution
Found in 43 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Dark Dagger (Acronicta tridens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dark-dagger