Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members:
Estigmene Members:
64 NC Records

Estigmene acrea (Drury, 1773) - Salt Marsh Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930317.00 MONA Number: 8131.00
Comments: One of two species in this genus north of Mexico and the only one in our area
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Males are unmistakeable, with a combination of white forewings, dotted with black, and bright orange hindwings; easily identifiable from photographs that show at least a portion of the hindwings. Females are white with black spots on both pairs of wings and are similar in color to several other species of Arctiinae. They are larger and have longer hindwings than spotted members of Spilosoma and are much larger than Hyphantria; they are, conversely, smaller than Hypercompe scribonia, which has ring-shaped spots (some cobalt blue) that are missing in Estigmene. Can be distinguished in photographs from Spilosoma congrua if the dorsal surface of the abdomen is showing -- it is pure white in congrua but strongly orange and spotted with black in Estigmene. Spilosoma dubia also has a yellow abdomen with dark spots but is more overlain with long white hair, which is missing in the much more brightly-colored abdomens of Estigmene. The thorax is also covered with long, fluffy white scales in Spilosoma species but is closely-scaled in Estigmene.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae are highly variable and similar to the equally variable larvae of Spilosoma species; probably best identified through rearing (Estigmene larvae are described as extremely fast-moving, capable of running down and eating other caterpillars -- Forbes, 1960).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Described by Brimley (1938) as occurring from Wilkes and Catawba Counties eastward, but we now have several records from at least the Low Mountains. Probably occurs statewide except possibly the High Mountains.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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