|
Sun, Sep 23, 12 at 9:42
| I have two Mexican oleanders, a yellow and a peach. They are vigorous, but suffer from hosting a caterpillar that rolls itself up in leaves with a web. Hummingbirds like the flowers. I want to eliminate this infestation with a minimal impact to the environment. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Sep 23, 12 at 10:01
| we need an ID to figure out if they are actually a pest ... if they arent..then removing them is harmful to the environment ... but that said. what harm are they doing to the tree?? .. other than using a few leaves ... in other words.. tell us how your tree is 'suffering' as you say .. pix will usually get you an ID ... ken |
|
| They are most likely the caterpillars of the very pretty mexican oleander moth, also called the satin white moth. How bad is the infestation? I'm not familiar with this particular plant nor this caterpillar. A very close relative, Nerium oleander, can be devestated quickly by its primary pest...also a caterpillar. I have no idea if yours behaves that way or not. |
|
| Depending upon how extensive the webbing is, disrupt/break with a stick. Then remove -- using fingers or tongs -- the caterpillars & drop into soapy water. |
|
| How extensive is this infestation? Squishing the larva in the leaf is one method of control with small populations. There are numerous insect predators of these leaf rollers that would be harmed more by any pesticide than the leaf roller would. There is one moth that lays eggs on this species of Oleander that become larva that apparently defoiliate the tree with no long term harm to the tree. |
|
| Kimmsr, perhaps you are speaking of the Oleander caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais. Who knows? If so, I can inform you that Nerium oleander can be stripped clean by an unchecked population of those insects. That's not acceptable for a broad leaf evergreen. BTK can be a very useful tool. |
|
| Kimmsr, perhaps you are speaking of the Oleander caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais. Who knows? If so, I can inform you that Nerium oleander can be stripped clean by an unchecked population of those insects. That's not acceptable for a broad leaf evergreen. BTK can be a very useful tool. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Garden Clinic Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.