Estigmene acrea

Estigmene acrea, the salt marsh caterpillar or acrea moth, is a common, distinctive species ranging widely in North America. The wingspan is 4.5 to 6.8 cm. The caterpillars are "wooly bears". The caterpillars feed on a wide range of plants, including dandelions, cabbage, cotton, apple, pea, and corn. The larva pupates in a silken cocoon covered with its setae where it overwinters and emerges as an adult in spring.

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Species: Estigmene acrea

Photograph: © 2022 RKD Peterson
Date of Photograph: 18 June 2022
Location: Montana, Gallatin Co. (45^o20’53”N  111^o10’31”W