Apatele

(also Acronycta), a genus of moths of the family Noc-tuidae. The wingspread is 2–5 cm; the forewings frequently have three black arrow-like markings. The proboscis is well developed, and the antennae are simple and bristle-like.

There are about 150 species, commonly known as daggers, distributed in the northern hemisphere, especially in the hardwood forests of Southeast Asia and Central America. Thirty species occur in the USSR. The caterpillars, which are hairy and mottled in coloration, usually live on trees and brushwood and are polyphagous. Some species are forest and orchard pests. For example, A. psi, A. tridens, and A. rumicis injure hardwood trees, including fruit trees, mainly in southern Europe, the Caucasus, and Middle Asia.