Salt Marsh Moth

Estigmene acrea

The Salt Marsh Moth is a beautiful insect with soft, fuzzy wings. It loves to fly around in warm weather and can often be found near salt marshes, where it lays its eggs.

Hábitat: Coastal areas

Aspecto

The Salt Marsh Moth has fuzzy, white forewings often spotted with black, and bright orange-yellow hindwings that also feature black spots. Its body is yellow or orange with black markings, making it stand out from many plain white moths.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaErebidaeGéneroEstigmene

Salt Marsh Moth

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Adult moths don't eat at all; they live off energy stored as caterpillars!

Caterpillars grow by shedding their skin many times, like changing outfits!

Its caterpillar is called a 'Woolly Bear' and can survive cold by freezing!

Some caterpillars can munch through hundreds of leaves in their lifetime!

Habilidades especiales

Salt Marsh Moth caterpillars are covered in stiff hairs that help protect them from predators who might try to eat them.

Salt Marsh Moth caterpillars can eat poisonous plants and store toxins, making them unappetizing to birds and other predators.

Adult Salt Marsh Moths have bright hindwings that they flash to startle predators, giving them a chance to escape quickly.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 40-60 mm
Tamaño: 15-25 mm
Esperanza de vida: 5-10 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 15 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Caterpillars are plant-eaters, munching on many kinds of leaves, while adult moths do not eat.

Diferencias por edad: Caterpillars eat many plants, but adult moths do not feed, relying on stored energy.

Alimentos principales

dandelion
plantain
ragweed
sunflower
clover
corn

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Bats hunt adult moths at night using echolocation.

eaten by

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Birds often snatch caterpillars and adult moths for a meal.

depends on

Common Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Caterpillars munch on leaves of dandelions and other common weeds.

eaten by

Tachinid Fly

Exorista larvarum

Tachinid flies lay eggs on caterpillars, which are then eaten by the fly larvae.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Costero

Los hábitats costeros son entornos dinámicos situados a lo largo de la interfaz entre la tierra y el mar, influenciados por las mareas, las olas y el agua salada.