Mission Statement of the Nebraska Crop Surveillance Network:
Mitigate the impact of crop diseases and insect pests and safeguard Nebraska's agriculture against threats of bioterrorism.

Insects: Saltmarsh Caterpillar

Taxonomy:

Common Name: Saltmarsh Caterpillar
Scientific Name: Estigmene acrea

Distribution:

  • A native insect found throughout the United States.

Importance:

  • Considered to be of minor importance in Nebraska.

Identification:

  • Larvae usually dark, but sometimes are yellowish brown or straw colored.

  • Larvae covered by long, flexible body hairs that varies in color from cream or grayish to yellowish brown to dark brown.

  • Larval length reaches 2 inches.

  • Adults are large moths, measuring close to 2 inches in wingspan.

  • They are predominantly white in color, although generally the wings bear numerous, small, irregular black spots. The hind wings of the male are yellow; those of the female are white.

Life Cycle:

  • Over winter as mature larval stage, and pupate in the spring.

  • Females lay eggs on the host foliage.

  • Eggs hatch in 4 -- 5 days.

  • Larvae go through 5 -- 7 instars (growth stages).

  • Older larvae may disperse long distances along the ground in search of food.

  • Pupation occurs on the soil among leaf debris.

  • Larvae construct a thin cocoon from silken hairs interwoven with body hair.

  • A generation can be completed in 35 to 40 days under ideal conditions, but usually it takes longer.

Host Range:

  • Extensive Field crops damaged include alfalfa, clover, cotton, soybean, sugar beet, and tobacco.

Injury & Damage:

  • Smaller larvae usually feed in the lower canopy or on the underside of leaves, so early infestations can go unnoticed.

  • Mature larvae often feed in the upper canopy where they are very noticeable.

Monitoring:

  • Moths monitored in black light traps

  • Larvae can be found by visual sampling.

Management:

  • Commonly managed with insecticides if larvae become numerous.

Notes: