CLOSED: Anyone know what kind of caterpillar this is?

obatalov San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Sep 09, 2009

I have previously found this caterpillar on my freesias and my peruvian daffodil. I could not get pictures of them earlier and thought that they were strictly bulb specialists. I found one today on a groundcover plant and managed to get a photo. The ones on my bulb plants were bigger, but definitely the same kind. Anyone know what kind of caterpillar this is? I want to know what to look out for next time.

Recently, some inchworms have started to wreak havoc on all of my plants. Is there any way to naturally control these and other caterpillars?

Post #7042574

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Sep 09, 2009

This caterpillar is in the family Noctuidae, belonging to a group known as armyworms or cutworms. It likely is in the genus Spodoptera - see http://tinyurl.com/ltrt3q for an example.These caterpillars appear to be generalists, feeding on a wide variety of plants. Most caterpillars can be controlled with compounds based on Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (BTk) - see http://tinyurl.com/klufrm for a fact sheet.

Post #7043323

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obatalov San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Sep 09, 2009

Thank you much for the information. I have seen the adult moths before, but I had no idea that the caterpillars were so destructive. I have never had problems with them before this year, so it must be the warm weather we have been having lately.

I will try to find and use the Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (BTk). Hopefully it will work and stop all of the caterpillar infestations.