Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1782822

Funerary Dagger

Acronicta funeralis

Also known as Funerary Dagger Moth, Paddle Caterpillar

Funerary dagger moths wear a stark gray and black adult pattern that provides seamless camouflage against forest bark during the day. Their extraordinary larvae, commonly known as paddle caterpillars, display a velvety black body paired with bright yellow patches and unusual, paddle-shaped bristles along their sides. Emerging in hardwood canopy habitats across North America, these caterpillars feed quietly on leaves before dropping to the forest floor to pupate in soft wood or leaf litter.

Noctuidae MothPaddle CaterpillarCryptic Pattern
Funerary Dagger reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Birch leaves
  • Alder leaves
  • Willow leaves
Predators
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Bats
  • Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide spraying, and severe light pollution
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban gardens
Life span1–2 years (including overwintering pupal stage)
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilyNoctuidae
  3. GenusAcronicta
  4. SpeciesAcronicta funeralis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Attract Adults: Set up a blacklight and white sheet in damp hardwood forests on warm summer nights.
  • Inspect Foliage: Search the upper surface of low birch and alder leaves in late summer for caterpillars.
  • Gentle Observation: Avoid heavy handling of caterpillars to protect their delicate paddle-like bristles.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

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