Estigmene acrea
Pest description and crop damage "Woolly bear" caterpillars up to 2 inches long, covered by long, red-brown hairs. They are seen especially in late season but rarely are an economic problem. Other species of woolly bear caterpillars are also known to feed on sugar beet, but their damage is also rarely of economic concern.
Scouting and thresholds No formal economic thresholds exist for saltmarsh caterpillar insecticide treatment decisions.
Management-biological control
A few commercial formulations of insect-killing bacteria are available (Table 3).
Management-chemical control
Several post-emergence products are available (Tables 2-3).