INSECT OF THE WEEK
Anybody know what these things are? They are munching my azaleas like crazy. They came around last year about this time too and did the same thing. I sprayed them with soapy water yesterday, but that didn’t phase them. Today I knocked them off into a cup of water and after about 15 minutes they still weren’t drowned (how does that work?). I don’t mind plucking them off to save my plants, but I’d like to know what they are (in case I’m killing some endangered moth).
Meanwhile, gulf fritilary caterpillars have almost completely defoliated my passion vine and I’m ok with that cause they are butterfly caterpillars. I think this double standard bears some examination but as I have about 150 forms to fill out (this being the first day of school) it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Andrea Johnson said:
It’s the azalea caterpillar, which turns into the azalea moth. They are generally considered a pest. Here’s what the North Carolina Pest News has to say:
Young azalea caterpillars are small, green worms that grow into medium, purple worms and then into large, black and yellow-striped worms with red heads and prolegs. They are sometimes called Labor Day worms, because so many folks discover them around Labor Day. Azalea caterpillars are gregarious in the larval stage, which makes their control relatively easy. However, because the worms feed in groups, they often completely defoliate a portion of a plant before they are detected. There is only one generation per year. The adult moths emerge in early summer and deposit eggs in masses of 80 to 100 on a leaf. As the larvae mature, they consume more and more of the leaf. Most of the damage occurs in August and September. Azalea caterpillars can be shaken from the shrub and trampled underfoot. Sevin, Orthene, Marvrik, and pyrethrin-based insecticides should give adequate control as well if you don’t mind using insecticides.
