TAXONOMY: Lepidoptera (order). 

DESCRIPTION: A common chewing pest that causes extensive foliar damage to plants.

PEST IDENTIFICATION: Correct identification is essential. Some caterpillars are highly seasonal and may not cause extensive damage to plants. Decorative caterpillars with bright colours or long hair are generally non problematic. 

DETRIMENT TO CROPS: Larvae chew on the leaves of the crop leaving holes. There feeding activity is usually confined to an area on a leaf, where as beetle damage is generally small areas but spread out on a leaf / plant. 

MONITORING REMARKS: Manually check for what is feeding on the plant before trying to control. 

ACTION THRESHOLD: Start with using Levo, Prevail-P, Rhizo Protect. Use emamectin benzoate (Prove or Blast Super) based products at the first sightings of significant foliar damage.

CONTROL REMARKS: Use emamectin benzoate based products for effective control. 

Contact a Cropserve agronomist for further information.