Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)…are the larval stage of moths or butterflies, many species are important food for birds. They have three pair of true legs on their thorax but none on the first two abdominal segments Some caterpillars fold or roll leaves together with silk to form shelters, others feed on leaves beneath a canopy of silk, some chew irregular holes in leaves, others devour entire leaves along with stems and in some cases flowers and fruit as well. Most caterpillars eat voraciously and grow rapidly, shedding old skins three to five times before entering a nonactive pupal stage. Sometimes you will notice their frass (droppings) as small pellets on the leaves below where they are actually feeding.
Many caterpillar eggs are destroyed by trichogramma wasps (We sell these as Tomato Worm Exterminator).
A narrow spectrum insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis or “Bt” (Safer’s Caterpillar Killer) is a bacterium that destroys the caterpillars’ digestive system and causes larvae to stop feeding within about a day. Most infected caterpillars die within a few days. The caterpillars must eat sprayed foliage in order to be killed. Bt should be applied during warm, dry weather when caterpillars are feeding actively. Sunlight quickly decomposes BT on foliage so most caterpillars hatching after the application are not affected, a second application about 7 to 10 days after the first may be required.
Natural biological controls are spiders, lacewing larvae, and ground beetles.
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