Hawaiian Snowbush, Snow-on-the-Mountain (Breynia disticha)

Hawaiian Snowbush, Snow-on-the-Mountain
Breynia disticha

New, growing foilage after defoiliation. Zone 10, se FL, USA.

Hi ... you mentioned that the new growth pictured occured after defoliation ... may I ask what caused the defoliation? We have a large bed of these shrubs on the south side of our house (SE Florida) and were shocked to discover that they were being completely defoliated by small (about 1 inch) yellow and black caterpillars with a reddish head. Does anyone know anything about this type of caterpillar ... what they might be ... are they normally considered pests, etc.? We would truly appreciate any help that anyone could offer!
Thank you!
Linda

i too have had defoliation
due to the little "caterpillar worms", and I have a hedge of Snow on the Mountains". These worms are offsprings (hatched eggs of the liquidy subtsance: pupae) of the black and yellow butterfly-moths in my neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale. The way to prevent defoliation is to
check the plants every day, amd notice if any leaf is curled up. the liquidy sustance with its eggs causes the leaf to curl up, forming a little cozy nest for the incubating egg; when it hatches it is the black and yellow worm which then EATS ALL the leaves, not just the one where the eggs were deposited. No matter what its name, it causes the defoliation, and at the first time, you don;t realise what has caused it- but when you see any clak and yellow "butterfly-moth"
discourage it, (spray. fly-swatter. etc.), and then search the plants for any curled-up leaf and pinch it off; discard it into a covered garbage can where the worm cannot hatch, cannot crawl away, or metamorphize into a butterfly-moth.

The leaves of this plant grew back after the caterpillars defoliated it. Since it was larger than the smaller bush which was killed completely by the defoliating yellow-and-black caterpillars (which turn into the black and orange and white, small butterflies or moths), it managed to recover. However, it is being repeatedly onslaught with attacks, and it may be gradually dying, although it is clinging on by growing back.

I've noticed that the caterpillars do repeated attracks on the bushes. If one is not completely dead after the first attack, they attack and feed again. The repeated attacks may slowly kill the plant by eating the new leaves which are trying to grow back, giving the plant no chance to grow back completely. Eventually, the plant is under so much onslaught and is given so little chance to grow back that it may gradually die.

I've also noticed (possibly) that younger bushes seem to die more easily from attacks then older, larger bushes from attacks.

Both of you (ILBELLE and GDR1) made good points about the "butterfly-moths". The caterpillars hatch into those moths or butterflies. I've noticed that those butterflies or moths are pretty common in south Florida, just like the caterpillars which eventually transform into these creatures.

The caterpillars ARE very worm-like and ARE yellow and black. The head is small and orangish, and is used to grap onto objects to help inch the caterpillar forward. When picked up, the small caterpillars wave their bodies in the air, trying to grasp onto something. They are very flexible.

Here is more information on the caterpillar attacks. I found this information in the book "Easy Gardens for South Florida" by Pamela Crawford (credits to her and the book for this information).

She notes that the plant is low-maintenance, but she "question Snowbush as a low maintenance plant because of severe caterpillar infestations. During the 90's, I only witnessed occasional caterpillar attacks. In the summer of 2000, I heard of many. These attacks are severe enough to completely defoliate the plant. The caterpillar is easily controlled by spraying, but the plants in this book are relatively pest- resistant naturally. I include Snowbush in this book with the hope that the frequency of the attacks is an exception and not the norm."

I've lately noticed that these attaqcks have become very common in south Florida lately, like Crawford, too.

I don't know what it is called, either. Maybe it was introduced into Florida with the Snow-on-the-Mountain shrubs, which are commonly planted in southern Florida but not native to Florida. The plants are reportedly native to southeast Asia, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands. When the plants were exported to Florida, the caterpillars might also have piggybacked on the plants to Florida. However, I am not positive. The caterpillars might be native to Florida possibly too.

They seem to be becoming pests more and more frequently to Snow-on-the-Mountain shrubs in southern Florida. I agree.

I've also noticed, finally, that the attacks seem to occur in cycles. Has anyone else noticed this also?

Hope I helped. Sorry I couldn't find any more information!

NativePlantFan9

This message was edited May 26, 2005 6:54 PM

You mentioned that you kept spraying the worm. Did your bushes live or did they finally all die? I have bushes that are under attack now and the leaves have started back once and have been eaten again. Does anything kill the butterfly-moths or caterpillar worms for good? If so , what did you use. I want to keep the bushes if I can.