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Ornamentals and Turf |
I have not yet received any reports about stinging caterpillars, but they are probably on the horizon. Some of the stinging caterpillars are called slug caterpillars because their prolegs lack tiny hooks that most other caterpillars have, and the prolegs are so short that some of the slug caterpillars resemble slugs. Several species of slug caterpillars have stinging hairs (saddleback caterpillars, hag moth caterpillars and stinging rose caterpillars) that can inflict a quite painful sensation. Some individuals are very sensitive to such episodes and may require professional medical treatment. Slug caterpillars overwinter in tough silk cocoons. Moths emerge the following spring and summer and lay flat eggs on leaves of various trees and shrubs. Puss caterpillars are one of the stinging caterpillars in the family of flannel moths. They produce a very painful sting when brushed (brushing against the caterpillar breaks tiny hollow spines which are filled with an urticating fluid which produces the painful stinging sensation which may last several hours). Swelling associated with the sting may be evident for several days. The adult is a lovely brown-colored moth with fluffy wings called a flannel moth. Puss caterpillars feed on various deciduous trees and shrubs, especially oak, elm, hackberry, maple, and sycamore trees. The moths, called flannel moths, are yellow-brown in color and have fluffy, wavy, white hairs. The young larvae sometimes feed in groups on the surface of the leaf. Older larvae devour the entire leaf. The caterpillars finally spin a dense cocoon in which it spends the winter. Puss caterpillars are usually not abundant enough to be noticed, although rare outbreaks may be widespread and may cause noticeable defoliation. Two generations probably occur each year, and the winter is spent in the cocoon spun some place on the host tree. Sevin or one of the Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) pesticides should give adequate control, although B.t. is not very effective on older caterpillars. Usually only a few are found and chemical control is not needed. Crush the insects with a stick or rock, if desired. You can also leave it alone.
Over the next two months, the big concern for turfgrass is going to be fall armyworms. Fall armyworms were first found in North Carolina back in the spring. In fact, they were found in North Carolina earlier than we have ever seen them. This is usually not good news as the fall armyworms are capable of building to significant populations as they go through several generations. Dry weather can also encourage outbreaks of fall armyworms as it may limit the amount of other vegetation available on which they can feed. Most of the state has had relatively good rainfall, so the good news is that there is a lot of vegetation for them to feed on in addition to turfgrass.
Turf that is the highest risk is the newly-sodded areas or areas that have just been sprigged or seeded. Fall armyworms seem to find these areas first and can really damage the turf. Keep a watch on such areas over the next two months. Infestations often start along one edge and move inward. Infestations may also start near a light source since moths are attracted to lights. If you see a lot of birds present in a turf area, become suspicious of the presence of caterpillars such as fall armyworms.
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Last modified on July 19, 2004 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.
