This photograph introduces our local Dagger Moths (Family Noctuidae, Subfamily Acronictinae). Shown here are examples of three genera and 12-14 species, all of which were found and photographed in northeastern North Dakota or northwestern Minnesota. Candidly, I find that some individuals in the genus Acronicta are particularly difficult to identify to the species level.
Why don’t you try to identity some of these moths yourself by matching photographs shown here with those found on pages 394-407 of the Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America.
There are many species of Dagger Moths in North America. If you’d like to see other Acronictinae, then click on this link in the Moth Photographer’s Guide to view other photographs of North American Daggers: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=29&sort=h
Dakota Naturalist 