Hi Experts,
I found this one on my Stephanotis this morning and have no idea what it is or if it will destroy the plant. Can you tell me what it is and if I should keep it around or not? I can always move it to another place on the acreage, but if it is a bad one, I'd rather get rid of it before it multiplies. He is kind of cute. Thanks.
Not an expert, but it's a tussock moth caterpillar of some kind. The caterpillars are lot cuter than the adults..
It looks to me like the Yellow-based Tussock Moth larva, Dasychira basiflava. They eat some of our native trees - I would just move it to an oak tree. Are you in or near a forested area?
Not close to a forest area, but I do have oaks in my own yard. Thanks, I'll move him if he is still where I put him.
After doing some reading, I think I'll just get rid of him. If they defoliate oak trees and some of them defoliate spruce trees...I don't really want that. Thanks again.
This message was edited Jul 3, 2009 12:25 PM
