Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Estigmene Members: 68 NC Records

Estigmene acrea (Drury, 1773) - Salt Marsh Moth


Estigmene acrea
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Estigmene acreaEstigmene acrea
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Estigmene acrea
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Arctiinae
Tribe:
Arctiini
P3 Number:
930317
MONA Number:
8131.00
Other Common Names:
Salt Marsh Caterpillar, Salt Marsh Tiger
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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, 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.
Estigmene acreaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
Flight Comments: Reported to have two broods over most of the East (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005). Our records may be consistent with that pattern but adults appear to be present throughout most of the growing season, at least in the Coastal Plain.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Wagner (2005) lists general open areas as the habitats used by this species. Most of our records come from salt-marsh habitats and adjoining dune grasslands at Fort Macon State Park. Other records come from areas with fresh-water marshes or wet old-field habitats (e.g., New River State Park, Mason Farm Biological Preserve, Smith Creek Restoration site). We have only a couple of records from Longleaf Pine savannas, however, and none from peatlands, which may indicate that it is not adapted to frequent fire.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on many low-growing forbs and graminoids, including crop species, as well as woody plants, including some tree species (Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded on American Burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolia), Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), White Sweetclover (Melilotus albus), and a smartweed (Persicaria sp.). - View
Observation Methods: Appears to come somewhat poorly to blacklights, with only single specimens being collected in light traps, and not at all to bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: While we suspect that this species is more common than our records indicate, and that it probably occurs in a wide range of human-altered, open habitats, we have too few records to be completely sure about its status in the state.

 Photo Gallery for Estigmene acrea - Salt Marsh Moth

55 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Estigmene acreaRecorded by: R. Teper on 2025-05-22
Orange Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Charlotte Vetter on 2025-05-18
Randolph Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-23
Brunswick Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-03-23
Brunswick Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wayne Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-09
Wayne Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2024-07-07
Carteret Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-09-04
Orange Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-09-02
Carteret Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-25
Polk Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-25
Polk Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-25
Polk Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-11
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-11
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-22
Orange Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-03
Orange Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26
Greene Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-18
Chowan Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-06-28
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2022-04-12
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Owen McConnell & Pat McConnell on 2021-09-25
Durham Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-07-08
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: R. Newman on 2021-05-21
Carteret Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-14
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-14
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-13
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-13
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-13
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-11
Wake Co.
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Estigmene acreaRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-05-11
Wake Co.
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