B&F: 2284

ABH: 73.038

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance:  Common.

Primary Habitat:  Woodland and hedgerows.

Flight Period:  Records extend from May to September indicating a second brood in some years.

Observations:  The adults of Dark Dagger (A. tridens) and Grey Dagger (A. psi) are virtually identical and show a similar range of variation. Unless examination of genitalia is performed, or the moths have been reared please record as Dark/Grey Dagger agg. To avoid even more confusion we have decided to leave the mapping and records as they are at the end of 2013. Grey Dagger seems to be much the more common of the two in this county and its caterpillar can also be found more readily, especially on lime and hawthorn. In the 1970’s numerous eggs were obtained in the county and after rearing them it was found that Grey Dagger outnumber Dark Dagger  by five to one. Dark Dagger seems to prefer wetland, but even there is the scarcer species.

Confusion Species: Dark Dagger

L.O.N.:  1907. Everywhere. Common. 

First Record:  1882, Hull & Tomalin.