Hi I have this lovely bush in my yard. Cream, thru green to Rosy variegated leaves on red stems. Don't know if it ever flowers. But it gets these tiny black butterflies [assume since they fly in daylight] and even tinier bright yellow worms, which much like Monarchs and milkweed, consume the entire bush down to only bare stems. My question is are they a good insects [thus tolerate their destruction] though it does come back, again like milkweed. Or should I try to eradicate them.
Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Tried to send pictures but it didn't work.
Nancy L McLemore
Snow Bush Butterflies and Worms
Looks similar to Monarch, possibly related? https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/10675-Butterflies-of-California
I remember your bush being referred to
as snow on the mountain.
I wouldn't eradicate them, they may be frustrating but they do serve a purpose as pollinators just like moths. In fact for example, papayas we had in Florida were pollinated by I think they were sphinx moths.
This message was edited Jun 8, 2020 9:38 AM
The caterpillar appears to be in the family Noctuidae; there are species in the genera Cucullia and Schinia that have caterpillars with a color pattern similar to the one in your image. If you can obtain an image that shows a caterpillar in greater detail, please post it. An image of one of the 'black butterflies' also would be helpful; they may not the adult form of the caterpillars
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