[NatureNS] lots of woolly caterpillars

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Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 06:22:49 -0300
From: nancy dowd <nancypdowd@gmail.com>
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Hi Nancy

I am wondering if these caterpillars are Estigmene acrea - Salt Marsh
Moth Caterpillars. This link to bugguide shows both adults and
caterpillars. Just click on whichever you want to view at the top.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/3242/bgimage

My brother had seen what I believe were lots of these on an offshore
island in Lun Co last week. The habitat you describe soiunds right and
your description reminds me of what he described.

Nancy

On Fri, Aug 30, 2013 at 8:36 PM, Nancy Roberts
<nancy.roberts@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> I'm just back from the Cole Harbour Salt Marsh Trail. There was a huge
> cohort of woolly caterpillars mostly between the second and third bridges as
> you walk from the Bissett Road end.
>
> They had reduced some of their favoured little yellow crucifers to stems and
> big veins and were even eating the pods. They were all over these, selected
> other species of plants, and the trail.
>
> Most were rusty all over, some were black down the back with rusty sides,
> and a few were grey. They had flashy markings on their bodies under the
> hairs. None were banded.
>
> I'm amazed that the parent leps laid so many eggs in the narrow strip of
> plants along the trail. Were they blown there? I've rarely seen a moth or
> butterfly out there.
>
> I know my descriptions are not thorough, but if anyone recognizes these
> species, I would love to be pointed to images of the adults.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nancy
>
> Nancy Roberts Design
> Celebrating 20 years of making you look GOOD
> Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2X6
>
>
>
>

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