Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

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  Sighting 619161

Salt Marsh Moth or Acrea Moth
Estigmene acrea

Observation date: September 07, 2011
Submitted by: Jeepersca
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: When I first found this little guy, he was mostly orange with white fur. He ballooned up after 2 weeks, and turned black with mostly black fuzz - though the side fuzz looks orange. It's entirely anthropomorphizing, but now that he's a little more intimidating than when I first picked him up, his rearing about seems threatening - though I'm sure he's no different. He went through a few latent phases... maybe at least 12 hours with no movement, and then some of his pseudopods fell off!!! I didn't realize they did that! Any idea what he will be? He was on my Pride of Madeira plant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echium_candicans), so that's what I'm feeding it. I am in Northern California, Fremont (20 miles south of Oakland in the bay area).
Status: Resident
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: January 21, 2022
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, California, Alameda County