Appearance
This species has grey forewings with bold black dagger-shaped markings. The hindwings are dirty grey, generally paler in the male. The wingspan is 34-45 mm. This moth is very similar to the Dark Dagger and identification is generally only possible by minute examination of the genitalia. However, in general this moth is generally darker in colour than the Dark Dagger and always lacks the white hindwings often present in the male of that species.The larvae of the two species are very different. The Grey Dagger flies at night from June to August and is attracted to light and sometimes to sugar.
The larva is whitish below and black above with red spots and a bold yellow stripe along the back. It has a distinctive horn just behind the head . It feeds on a wide range of plants, mainly trees and shrubs . The species overwinters as a pupa.
Food
*''Acer'' - Norway Maple⤷ ''Aegopodium'' - Ground-elder
⤷ ''Alnus'' - Alder
⤷ ''Amelanchier''
⤷ ''Betula'' - Birch
⤷ ''Corylus'' - Hazel
⤷ ''Cotoneaster''
⤷ ''Crataegus'' - Hawthorn
⤷ ''Malus'' - Apple
⤷ ''Populus'' - Poplar
⤷ ''Prunus''
⤷ ''Pyrus'' - Pear
⤷ ''Quercus'' - Oak
⤷ ''Rosa'' - Rose
⤷ ''Rubus''
⤷ ''Salix'' - Willow
⤷ ''Sorbus''
⤷ ''Spiraea''
⤷ ''Tilia'' - Lime
⤷ ''Ulmus'' - Elm
References:
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