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Caterpillars
Caterpillars are the larvae of moths and butterflies. Moths
and butterflies do not feed on plant tissue or harm plants. However,
caterpillars have evolved to chew plant tissue. Caterpillars are smooth, hairy
or spiny wormlike creatures with 3 pairs of legs near their heads and several
pairs of prolegs (false legs) in the middle and rear of the abdomen. Generally
caterpillars eat plant material that is soft and succulent such as leaves.
After hatching a caterpillar may go through as many as 11
stages of development, each stage of caterpillar development is known as an
instar. At the end of each instar caterpillars must shed their skin (a process
known as molting), to make room for their larger body size. In the early stages
of their life cycle caterpillars may only eat the tissue on the surface of the
leaves, as they grow older, they will chew away the leaf and leave only the
skeleton of the leaf. However, as they grow larger caterpillars need more food
and will eat the entire leaf.
Some plants are more susceptible to caterpillars, the
buddleia species for example are more susceptible.
Caterpillar populations in Cambria California vary from year
to year depending on the environmental conditions and on the population of their
natural predators such as rodents and birds.
Suggested solution
Bacillus thuringiensis or BT as it is more commonly known, is the most popular bacterial
insecticide for treating caterpillars. Caterpillars should be sprayed when you
can see them. If you cannot see them, but you suspect caterpillars are a
problem, you should delay spraying until you can see them.
How to prevent caterpillars
Products we sell at Cambria Nursery & Florist to control caterpillars
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Cambria Nursery and Florist
