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Salt Marsh Moth, White Acrea Tiger Moth

Estigmene acrea

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
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16.7128, -92.612

Field Notes

Description:

White moth with black thoracic stripes and small black spots on the wings. The upper abdomen and the femora of the legs are bright orange and black.
This is a female with white, spotted hind wings. In males the hind wings are orange. Family Arctiidae.

Habitat:

Came to an ultraviolet light in the garden, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

Very docile and plays dead when disturbed.

Species ID Suggestions

Salt Marsh Moth

Estigmene area

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (10)
Telse
No we won't, will we. But we can darn well try! lol :)
LaurenZarate
Thank you so much Telse. Moths are just unbelievable with an infinite variety! We will never see them all. Great thing to be a nut about. :)
Telse
Just beautiful! You have an amazing and awesome collection Lauren. I particularly love your Moths. I am a Moth nut.
LaurenZarate
It should be called just Marsh Moth, it has a large distribution throughout the US and it can't all be in salt marshes. We have mountain marshes or wetlands in our valley (sadly, very diminished).
LaurenZarate
Wow! Thank you bayucca. Before I put this up, I went through all the white arctiids and didn't find a single one with the black thoracic stripes and the spot. I just didn't know what to think about that. Now I spent 2 more hours pouring through all your links. The abdominal pattern fits E. albida better. Then I found a moth with thoracic stripes (but no spot) labeled as E. acrea: http://croar.net/guide/image/moths#arctiidae, so I am going to agree with you. This is a tough one. Thank you for all your hard work!!! :) I am very appreciative.
bayucca
Arctiidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Spilosomina, Estigmene acrea, female. Hard one... Some of the spots and markings are different, but it is also variable. Tricky was the most apical black pin and the other spots at the outer margin of the forewing: OK, match. http://bugguide.net/node/view/95771/bgimage Black stripes on the head is usually not seen, other species? OK, match. http://bugguide.net/node/view/294370/bgimage Empty wing vs. multi-spotted wing: http://bugguide.net/node/view/96967/bgimage http://bugguide.net/node/view/175113 This one is also matching the body pattern! http://bugguide.net/node/view/346469/bgimage http://bugguide.net/node/view/175113 So, after the long list of sceptics, I think it is Estigmene acrea. Cave: misspelling in the suggestion!! I cannot delete suggestions on my iPad! Please, verify!! http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8131

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2013 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedApril 12, 2013

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