24 N. S. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



THE SALT MARSH CATERPILLAR (ESTIGMENE 

 ACRAEA, DRURY.) 



By H. G. Payne. 



Distribution and Economic Importance. 



The Salt Marsh Caterpillar is widely distributed over the 

 greater part of Canada, United States and Mexico, where its 

 injuries have been noted by various workers. In most cases, 

 however, the references are brief, indicating that the insect was 

 not considered of prime economic importance. 



Since Harris (1) made his very careful studies so long ago, 

 little of importance has been added to our knowledge of this in- 

 sect. The name which he gave it, viz. the "Salt Marsh Cater- 

 pillar," has, however, continued to remain in use, though mis- 

 leading in implication, since the pest attacks many crops and 

 is by no means confined to salt marshes. Forbes (2) men- 

 tions it as an enemy to the sugar beet, also recording it as at- 

 tacking small fruit vines and young trees. Later the same 

 writer (2a) gives it a place in his monograph of insect injuries 

 to Indian corn. Chittenden (3) records it as injurious in beet 

 and corn fields, also in gardens. Hinds (4) reports serious 

 injuries to the cotton at Victoria, Texas, in 1902. He states 

 however, that such injury is rare. Gibson (5) mentions it as 

 among the insects occasionally occuring in gardens in sufficient 

 numbers to demand attention. Sanderson (6) reports consid- 

 erable damage in cotton fields. It is also mentioned by 

 Hooker (7) among the enemies of tobacco. Patch (8) also re- 

 ports this insect throughout the state of Maine in 1908. 



Various other brief notes on this insect are scattered 

 throughout the literature of economic entomology, but the 

 fact that no extended studies have been made is sufficient evi- 

 dence that its work has not been taken very seriously by en- 

 tomologists. Our experience in Nova Scotia with this pest, 

 would lead us to confirm the opinion of other observers, viz. 

 that the injuries of the Salt Marsh Caterpillar are generally 

 local in character, and are rarely serious. Though, no doubt, 

 it is present in more or less numbers every year, we have only 

 noted outbreaks of any importance during the past two years. 

 During that period frequent complaints have been received 

 from various points, but particularly from the west and south- 



