Caterpillars
Hungry caterpillars can cause a lot of damage to your precious plants. Your best defense is to scout your landscape on a regular basis. Look over your plants carefully a couple of times a week. If you see chewing damage, try to find the critter responsible. It's probably a caterpillar. Source: Gardening in a Minute, Caterpillars on Ornamentals
Caterpillars are the larval stage of insects in the order Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths.
Narrower Topics
Related Topics: Arthropod Pests, Caterpillars, Lawn and Garden Care: Pest Management
Related Topics: Biting and Stinging Organisms, Caterpillars
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Related IFAS Blog Posts
Springtime Caterpillars
Jackie LebouitzMarch 21st, 2024It’s officially spring, and almost like clockwork, several seasonal caterpillars have begun to emerge from our trees…and may have found their way onto our walls, benches, and well, just about everywhere. While their presence may be a nuisance to some, these caterpillars are (mostly) harmless and serve as an important food source for birds, bats, […]
Palm Leaf Skeletonizer
Stephen BrownNovember 2nd, 2023Introduction […]
The oleander moth – color and calamity
Ralph MitchellAugust 25th, 2023Most moths are nocturnal and can be colorful additions to our backyards often attracted to lights at night or found on the side of the house in the morning. There are also what are called “day-flying moths” which include the polka-dot wasp moth also known as the oleander moth. This beautiful iridescent, spotted, red-rump moth […]