QuestionQUESTION: I have two (2) oleander trees in my yard and both are covered with a red caterpillar w/black legs. They are eating the leaves and have also gotten into our grass from the tree area. They are causing much damage to the plants and grass. What are these caterpillars and how do we get rid of them and where did they come from? They definitely are not of the "butterfly" style.
R.Horgan - Lutz, FL.
ANSWER: The Oleander caterpillar is the most significant insect pest of oleanders. The caterpillar is an immature (larval) phase of the Oleander Moth, Syntomeida epilais jucundissima. The adult female moth lays clusters of 25 to 75 orange eggs under leaves. Young larva will skeletonize the leaves, while the more mature, orange-colored caterpillar with black spots and hairs will eat the entire blade. By biting the veins, the caterpillar drains the toxic sap before consuming the leaf.
When it reaches a mature size of about 2 inches long, the insect pupates. The silk-covered cocoon yields a purple-black winged moth that has several white dots on the wings. With a sixty-day life cycle, this pest can have three generations in a year. Scouting for the eggs and young caterpillars in March, July and December will enable control measures to reduce feeding damage. Bacillus thuringensis insecticides can provide environmentally safe yet effective control. Chemical insecticides also can be used.
The adults do not look like "normal" moths or butterflies. The adult stage of the oleander caterpillar is sometimes called the "polka-dot wasp moth." Wasp moth is the common name given to the subfamily of arctiid moths to which this species belongs (the ctenuchines) because of their resemblance to wasps such as the sphecids and pompilids.
The oleander caterpillar is a native of the Caribbean region. Its range extends from northern South America, through Central America into Mexico, and from many Caribbean islands into Florida and coastal regions of southeastern states. It is a year round inhabitant of south Florida and the Keys but is usually killed by cold winter temperatures in northern and north-central Florida only to recolonize these areas the following spring. The original host plant is thought to be a now relatively rare beach- or pineland-inhabiting vine, Echites umbellata Jacq. However, the oleander caterpillar is thought to have switched over to feeding on oleander when the Spanish introduced this Mediterranean ornamental plant in the 17th century. The geographic distribution of the oleander caterpillar in America now coincides with that of oleander except that the caterpillar is not found in California.
Here is a web site that gives you more information on the moth.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN13500.pdf
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QUESTION: What product can I use to spray them with to rid the trees of them?
Answer Professional strength Permethrin products proved to be the best for controlling or eliminating Oleander caterpillars. Permethrin professional grade products (Dragnet) are used the Oleander caterpillars are killed. In heavy or stubborn infestations, two or three applications might be necessary.
These applications should be made at about 10 to 14 day intervals to effectively kill the different generations of Oleander caterpillars that are probably present.
Use a hose-end sprayer to apply Permethrin to large or tall stands of Oleander shrubs. One to two ounces of Permethrin concentrate per gallon of water will yield a solution that will kill Oleander caterpillars.
If you can not find Dragnet--A number of control measures are available for leaf eating caterpillars. The best control measure is locating and removing eggs prior to hatching. If hatching caterpillars are found products such as acephate (Orthene), malathion, and carbaryl (Sevin) can be used. A natural bacteria called BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) can be used as well. BT is sold under the trade name Thuricide or Dipel. It is best when caterpillars are less than 1/4".
Check with your local nursery/garden type store for an insecticide for Oleander caterpillar.
