What is Estigmene acrea?
{{Italictitle}} {{Taxobox | name = Salt marsh moth | image = Male Salt Marsh Moth, Megan McCarty112.jpg | image_width = 220px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Insect]]a | ordo = [[Lepidoptera]] | familia = [[Arctiidae]] | genus = ''Estigmene'' | binomial = ''Estigmene acrea''}} The '''salt marsh moth''' or '''acrea moth''' (''Estigmene acrea'') is a [[North America]]n [[moth]]. It is in the family [[Arctiidae]]. The [[caterpillar]] is known as the 'salt marsh caterpillar'. == Description == [[File:Salt Marsh Moths mating, Megan McCarty113.jpg|thumb|left|A mating pair of salt marsh moths]] The head and [[thorax]] are white. The [[abdomen]] is yellow-orange with a row of black spots. The fore wing (the top wing) is white with a [[wikt:variable|variable]] amount of black spots (some [[wikt:individual|individuals]] do not have these spots). The hind wing (the bottom wing) is yellow-orange in males. It is white in females. Both sexes have 3-4 black spots or blotches on their hind wings. The [[wingspan]] ranges from 4.5 to 6.8&nbsp;cm.<ref name=cvcj>Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005. ''Moths of Eastern North America''. Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, VA. {{ISBN|1-884549-21-7}}</ref> == Flight == This moth may be seen from May to August.<ref name=cvcj/> It is seen all year in southern [[Florida]] and southern [[Texas]].<ref name=dlw>David L. Wagner 2005. ''Caterpillars of Eastern North America''. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. {{ISBN|0-691-12144-3}}</ref> == Life cycle == [[File:Estigmene acrea eggs.jpg|thumb|left|Adult and egg masses]] [[File:Salt Marsh Caterpillar.jpg|thumb|left|Salt marsh caterpillar]] The eggs are a yellowish color. They are laid in [[wikt:cluster|clusters]] on the host plant leaves. The Salt Marsh Caterpillar is highly variable in color. It ranges from pale yellow to dark brownish-black. It has many soft hairs. The hairs are longer towards the end of the body. The thoracic and abdominal [[wikt:segment|segments]] have