About Acronicta insularis
Acronicta insularis is a moth species in the Noctuidae family. Its larval stage is commonly called the cattail caterpillar, while the adult moth is known as Henry's marsh moth. This species was first formally described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1868. It can be found across the entire continental United States from coast to coast, and in southern Canada, specifically in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The adult moth has a wingspan ranging from 35 to 40 mm. Adult Acronicta insularis are active in flight from April through September each year. The larvae of this species feed on Typha and Polygonum plant species, plus a variety of grasses, sedges, poplar, and willow. This species was previously classified under the scientific name Simyra insularis. In 2015, phylogenetic analysis led to the transfer of the entire genus Simyra, along with the genera Oxicesta and Eogena, into the genus Acronicta. The MONA (Moths of North America) or Hodges reference number for Acronicta insularis is 9280.
