Caterpillars and the damage they cause may be a little more visible this time of year, before the weather turns cooler. But who is dangerous, and who is harmless? Here are just a few interesting ones to become familiar with.
Some caterpillars, despite being fuzzy and uniquely colored, sock a painful sting! Beware of these while gardening... another good reason to always wear gloves.
The tussock moth caterpillar - Their stinging hairs can cause a rash for those with sensitive skin. These caterpillars eat the leaves of many hardwood trees and have been spotted eating leaves of rose plants and others. To survive the winter, they use their hairs to spin a gray cocoon.
The saddleback caterpillar - Only about an inch long, these are easily identified by their little green sweater with a saddle pattern. Saddlebacks sting as well! Quickly remove any stinging hairs from the site, wash skin immediately, and seek medical treatment if experiencing anaphylaxis.
Tomato hornworm - These don’t sting, but boy do they enjoy a good tomato plant! In just hours, one can devour many limbs and leaves of a tomato. Spot these plump caterpillars in early mornings and pluck them off the plant. Look carefully as they are very well camouflaged on the stems.
Orangestriped oakworm - Guaranteed they’re up there if you’re seeing lots of black smudges on the concrete beneath some oak trees. Adults begin to appear in early summer, and leaves on host trees will come to look skeletonized from their feeding. Mature worms fall from the trees and search for a place to pupate.
Fall webworms - Large webs around the ends of tree limbs are quite noticeable along roadsides right now. These are not to be confused with tent caterpillars, who nest more in the crotches of tree branches. Knock down lower webs, but otherwise, don’t worry too much about them. If they’re defoliating a tree and it’s deciduous, the leaves will fall off soon anyways.
Armyworms - This is a voracious pest that feeds on turf this time of year, and they don’t discriminate. Look out for bird activity on the lawn, ragged chew marks on grass blades, and new dead spots. Pyrethroids are recommended as treatment as soon as damage from smaller larvae is observed. Read more about armyworm control here.