Common Name: American Dagger moth, Fishers Island, NY, June 2017.
Scientific Name: Acronicta Americana
Season: One generation in the Northeast. Adults in early summer, with caterpillars from July into the fall.
Food: Ash, elm, hickory, maple oak, poplar, willow.
Ecology: A forest moth, American dagger caterpillars can be found feeding on many deciduous trees. The caterpillars are covered in yellow tufts of hair that can cause irritation to the skin in some people.
Adam Mitchell Photo