I had a hard time getting photos, so don't know if anyone can help. I've got lots of these caterpillars on my beebalm, and I don't think they're something I want to lose the plants to, but want to be sure I'm not hurting potential beautiful butterflies. They're burrowing in right under each blossom. Any clues? They're maybe 1 inch long, skinny, not goodlooking (like the black swallowtail beauties).
Here's another photo, not much better, I'm afraid.....
It may be an Army worm, does it have a 'Y' on its head?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ENTO/photos/Oct1105a-lr.jpg&imgrefurl=http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ENTO/photos/Oct1105a.htm&h=421&w=640&sz=33&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=YcPJFlRiOerGXM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darmyworms%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DDNUS,DNUS:2006-36,DNUS:en
Thanks FlyGirl, but no, I don't see a Y on their noggins!!!! But they ARE as ugly as the Army worms.
can't tell by your pic but Bee Balm is the host plant for the Hermit Sphinx moth. Does it have a tail??
Nope, no tail.... hmmmm. But I didn't know the Hermit sphinx moth used bee balm as its host plant, so I learned something anyway! Thanks Donna!
thea611,
Do these caterpillars you are taking about white with a light green tint and hairy and a black nose? Because I have caterpillars on my Ficas and Crape Myrtels. I don't think they are good bugs because they are eating all the leaves and replace it with what looks like a huge cacoon of eggs. I've heard them referred to as Web worms.
No rebelopez, these guys are naked, no fur. Your poor crepe myrtles!!!! I just discovered this afternoon that Japanese beetles like crepe myrtles! This is our first summer in zone 8, and the flowers are just coming out on our CM's, and I'm most upset to find these darned beetles. Another chore to fit into my schedule, picking off Japanese beetles!!!!!!! I removed several dozen today and stomped on them, dang things......
thea611,
This a picture of the worm I'm talking about. I hope I loaded the picture correctly.
this is the classic webworm. because of all the rain and wind they are being blown onto just about everything. I have been picking them off of what is left of my flower garden since all this rain. voracious eaters and I don't think they turn into anything like a butterfly.
Good photo, rebelopez, but no, your critter is different from mine. LouC, I'm sorry for all the rain ya'll are suffering thru; you're getting way too much, and we're getting way too little. I just looked up webworms on the Internet, I guess there are quite a few kinds, so I'll have some reading to do! But these guys aren't doing my plants any good and they're ugly, so they're going to have to go......
tkx 611. The sun has just come out. Hooray! Hooray! I pray that this system will blow your way but will be much milder. We have gone from nothing to way too much all at once.
Be careful what you pray for.....you just might get it.
All kidding aside.....the rain is a blessing and much needed. Sorry that some people lost their homes. The cities need to be more diligent in the planning stages and not allow homes to be put in harms way.
We are now inundated with every kind of biting, eating creature there is. Don't allow chemicals so will just have to tough it out.
