Acronicta cuspis (Hübner, 1813)


Acronicta cuspis: Adult (e.l. SW-Bavaria, Woringer Wälder near Memmingen, rearing with larva found on 24.09.2015, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Adult drying its wings (e.l. SW-Bavaria, Woringer Wälder near Memmingen, rearing with larva found on 24.09.2015, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Adult (e.l. SW-Bavaria, Woringer Wälder near Memmingen, rearing with larva found on 24.09.2015, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Young larva (forest E of Aichstetten, Baden-Württemberg, early September 2016) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Young larva (forest E of Aichstetten, Baden-Württemberg, early September 2016) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Young larva (forest E of Aichstetten, Baden-Württemberg, early September 2016) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Larva in penultimate instar (in last moult rest on a seat pad on Alnus glutinosa, S-Germany, forest east of Aichstetten, late August 2015) [N] Acronicta cuspis: Larva in penultimate instar (in last moult rest on a seat pad on Alnus glutinosa, S-Germany, forest east of Aichstetten, late August 2015) [N] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva after last moult (S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [M] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larva (e.l. rearing S-Germany, Aichstetten, late August 2015) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Pupa (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Pupa (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Pupa (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Pupa (e.l. S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, leg., cult. & phot. Peter Schmidt) [S] Acronicta cuspis: Larval habitat (S-Germany, Forest east of Aichstetten, late August 2015). I recorded a larva directly after the last moult on the alder bush (Alnus glutinosa) on the forest road verge in the right side. [N] Acronicta cuspis: Larval habitat (S-Germany, Forest east of Aichstetten, late August 2015). I recorded a larva in penultimate instar on the alder bush (Alnus glutinosa). [N] Acronicta cuspis: Larval habitat (S-Germany, Forest east of Aichstetten, late August 2015). I recorded a larva in penultimate instar on the alder bush (Alnus glutinosa). [N] Acronicta cuspis: Larval habitat (S-Germany, Woringer Wälder bei Memmingen, 24.09.2014, phot. Peter Schmidt) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Betulaceae, especially alder (Alnus glutinosa), sometimes also birch (Betula).

Habitat:
Acronicta cuspis inhabits swamps, edges of bogs, riparian woodlands, streams and also humid mixed forests with good proportion of alder.

Life cycle:
Moths occur in one or two generations between late April and early September. Larvae feed between June and early October. They rest on upper sides of leaves where they also moult on a then strengthened seat pad. Though surely most larvae will develop on older trees, I recorded two larvae also on smaller bushes in 2,5 m above ground in August 2015 (S-Germany). Pupation most often occurs at trunks in rotten wood.

Endangerment factors:
Acronicta cuspis is endangered due to destruction of wetlands (dewatering, afforestation with spruce and others, agriculture, overbuilding).

Remarks:
Acronicta cuspis occurs in Europe (in the south only rare and very local) and temperate Asia to Japan.



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