Acronicta cyanescens Hampson

At the eastern edge of its range in extreme southwestern Alberta.

Collected in Alberta in late June and early July.

Western North America, from extreme southwestern Alberta west, and south to New Mexico (Troubridge and Lafontaine, in prep.). In Alberta it has been collected in Waterton National Park and near the Alberta-BC boundary at Island Lake in the Crowsnest Pass.

A medium-size (4.5-4.7 cm wingspan) powdery light grey moth with few markings. Forewing markings consist of a short, very fine black basal dash, a slightly larger black anal streak, a few dark scales marking the reniform and in some specimens traces of the postmedian line. The grey fringe is checked with black between the veins. The hind wings are dirty white, with darker grey-brown scales lining the veins and forming a thin terminal line. Antennae simple. Overall a very neat, clean looking moth compared to most Acronicta species. The closely related A. lepusculina is darker grey and has more prominent markings. Acronicta dactylina is also better marked, and lacks any trace of a basal streak.

Dry montane forest

Poorly known. Adults are nocturnal and come to light. There is a single annual brood.

The only recorded larval host is snowbush (Ceanothus velutinus)(Miller and Hammond, 2003).

Acronicta cyanescens is a moth of the family Noctuidae first described by George Hampson in 1909. It is found in western North America, from extreme south-western Alberta west, and south to New Mexico.

The wingspan is 45–47 mm. Adults are on wing from June to July in one generation depending on the location.