Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Worm or Catepillar? Eating Texas Mountain Laurel, 4 by dweiland1

dweiland1 wrote:
Help me identify if this is friend or foe. I love butterflies but this worm/catepillar/pest is eating my new growth on my Texas Mountain Laurel which grows slowly anyway. I know I have aphids too, and am treating them but this worm critter appears every few days, grows fast, spins a sticky white web and seems to be eating my new growth so I have been picking them off.

Would it turn into a pretty butterfly if I left them alone? Would they destroy my Texas Mountain Laurel though? I live in Phoenix AZ, have many desert plants in my yard but this guy is only bothering the two Texas Mountain Laurels that are not quite 2 years old. These plants bloomed beautifully this spring then I think got too frequent watering while I was on vacation and lost most of their lower leaves but new growth unharmed. Now these pests are attacking the new growth so I need your help to identify and save my plants.

Thanks.