These little black spiny caterpillar type insects make cottony webs in the crook of the leaves and are eating away at my Anaphalis. They are new plantings so I don't think I can just hope the bugs get their fill and go away.
What are they and how can I get rid of them. Insecticidal soap did not work.
Thank you!
Jennifer
It's sometimes hard to tell when they are tiny but they could be the Painted Lady caterpillars:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/lepidopt/nymph/0092b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/lepidopt/nymph/plady.htm&h=343&w=480&sz=54&hl=en&start=19&um=1&tbnid=tFlKF7bG5myv5M:&tbnh=92&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpainted%2Blady%2Blarvae%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS276%26sa%3DN
I'm in Ann Arbor MI. I didn't see any range listed from the link. But thank you for the info!
Jennifer
They have a huge breeding range all over the US, I don't think they eat much :)
Reading more about the painted lady I just don't think that is what these are. I have plenty of thistle and hollyhocks very near the anaphalis and they are clean. Plus, from what I read these are too small. And they are all black. These infect any white fuzzy leaf plants I have (licorice vine, icicles).
So any more ideas?
Thanks
Jennifer
I'll have to research it, many butterflie and moth larvae prefer certain plant families to eat.
I've never heard of icicles..other than the ice kind....what is the genus, do you know? And the licorice plant genus?
Both are Helichrysum.
http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=6720
this is the link for "Icicles".
Sorry, I'm pretty new to all this and I'm a 'common' name person!
These caterpillars are no longer than 1/4 inch.
thanks again for your help
Jennifer
Okay, all those plants are in the Asteraceae family, so they are probably butterfly caterpillars. What about these Pearl Crescents:
Scroll down about half way:
http://www.naturemuseum.org/online/thebutterflylab/fieldguide/native.html
Sometimes the cats will change as they get older; gets spots or stripes, so those may change some or get bigger so you can see something that makes the id easier.
Too funny! I had looked at the pearl cresents. Could be them. Now I'll have to check my asters! They are right next to the anaphalis!! I haven't looked because they haven't seemed in bad shape. The anaphalis was really suffering though. I've treated with imidicloprid so I doubt I'll see how these buggers progess.
Thank you for your help
Jennifer
Awwww, you couldn't spare a few?
Well, you're welcome anyway!
They are welcome to my annuals (licorice vine and icicles) and they can have some of the anaphalis next year after it gets established. But for now I'm just trying to get those established.
Jennifer
