I had a new visitor to my yard today. I found a caterpillar on the screen to my sliding door. It had long yellowish hairs covering black spots along its body. How did it get there? Did it climb? Did it fly on the wind? I had to identify it. I’ve never seen this one before.
It turned out to be a salt marsh moth caterpillar. Now, I don’t know of any salt marshes nearby. We have ponds and creeks. I suppose there are marshy areas near the river, but my house is not near there. However, it makes sense then that it’s commonly found in any open area, not just marshes. Host plants for Estigmene acrea are said to be vegetables, weeds and hemp.
This caterpillar is a fast walker. It is seen in the fall and overwinters in cocoons in soil debris. Another reason not to rake up leaves and other yard debris.
Adults emerge in spring and lay eggs on host plants. The eggs hatch within only a week, and then the caterpillars eat, grow and molt several times before they are ready for the cocoon.
When its wings are closed, the moth appears black and white, with black spots on its abdomen. It can be variable, with spots or none. Males have a yellow-orange hind wing and females have white. This species is not really considered a pest, unless its population swells and plunders a valuable crop.
As with any hairy caterpillar, it’s best to avoid touching them, as the hairs are irritating.
I coaxed the caterpillar off my screen and onto a paper towel. I carried it to my front yard to find a more suitable place to find food or a wintering place than my house.
Only the caterpillar photos are mine. The moth images are from the web.
Natural Views 