NCSU: ENT/ort-07 CATERPILLARS THAT FEED ON TREES AND SHRUBS

Ornamental & Turf Insect Note Logo

CATERPILLARS THAT FEED ON TREES AND SHRUBS

Steven D. Frank & S. B. Bambara, Extension Entomologists

CAUTION: This information was developed for North Carolina and may not apply to other areas.

General Information

There are over 1400 kinds of moths and butterflies in North Carolina. Some of these lay eggs from which hatch destructive caterpillars that feed on our trees and shrubs.

The moths and butterflies (adults) cannot do any damage to plants themselves. The following caterpillars are commonly reported from ornamental plants. Not all occur in high numbers to be considered pests. Learn more about the species of your interest before applying pesticides.

Bagworm - mostly evergreen Birch skeletonizer - birch Cankerworm - elm, maple, oak, etc. Catalpa sphinx - catalpa Cecropia moth - many trees Eastern tent caterpillar - cherry, apple Fall webworm -pecan, sourwood, persimmon,etc. Forest tent caterpillar - maple, oak, poplar Giant Swallowtail- Hercules club, prickley ash, citrus Greenstriped mapleworm - maple, oak, etc. Hemlock looper - hemlock Hickory horned devil (Regal Moth)- hickory, walnut and others Imperial moth - many trees Io moth - various trees and shrubs Juniper webworm -junipers Luna moth - many forest & shade trees Pinkstriped oakworm - oak Polyphemus moth - many trees Poplar tentmaker - poplar, willow Promethea moth - many trees Redhumped caterpillar - cherry, dogwood Redhumped oakworm - oak, elm, etc. Saddled prominent - maple, beech, etc. Spiny oakworm - oak Stinging caterpillars - oak, many others Uglynest caterpillar - cherry, etc. Walnut caterpillar - pecan, walnut, etc. Yellownecked caterpillar - hickory, oak

Sawflies in the larval stage look very much like moth caterpillars. They may cause severe defoliation. Sawflies belong in the group of insects which includes ants, bees, and wasps.

Dusky birch sawfly - birch
Elm sawfly - elm
Pin oak sawfly - oak
Redheaded pine sawfly

Control

The single attack of a leaf-feeding insect will seldom kill a healthy tree or shrub. Repeated defoliations, however, may weaken and make them susceptible to destruction by other insects, diseases, severe cold weather, drought, etc. Most of those listed above are not a serious threat.

Try to identify the specific insect before taking control measures. Your local Cooperative Extension Office can help. Further information about some of the more serious caterpillar pests is contained in other specific insect pest notes.

The following pesticides are labeled for "caterpillars". Other pesticides may be labeled for certain types of caterpillars such as armyworms, bagworms, cankerworms, webworms. Some pesticides are labeled for specific caterpillars such as yellownecked caterpillars or eastern tent caterpillars.

A complete list of all such pesticides and all of their target pests is too long for this insect note. The North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual has a more complete list of pesticides and target pests. Bacterial insecticides such as B.t. are useful when caterpillars are still small.

Active ingredient	Trade name	Labeled sites	Signal word	IRAC MOA group	Compatible with beneficials
acephate	*Orthene	L, A	Caution	1B	No
acetamiprid	TriStar	G, N, L	Caution	4A	Yes
azadirachtin	Azatin	L	Caution	18B	Yes
*Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)*	*Dipel, others	G, N, L	Caution	11B2	Yes
*Beauveria bassiana*	Naturalis	G, N, L	Caution	M	Yes
bifenthrin	Talstar	G, N, L, I	Caution	3	No
bifenthrin	Onyx	L, I	Caution	3	No
carbaryl	*Sevin	N,L	Caution	1A	No
chlorfenapyr	Pylon	G	Caution	13	Yes
chlorantraniliprole	Acelepryn	L, I	none	28	Yes
cyfluthrin	Decathlon	G, N	Caution	3	No
fenpropathrin	Tame	G, N, L, I	Caution	3	No
spinosad	Conserve, Entrust, Fertilome, Greenlight	G, N	Caution	5	Yes
tebufenozide	Confirm	N, L	Caution	18A	Yes

*Suitable for home use. G=greenhouse, L=landscape, N=nursery, I=interiorscape.

Interesting Links: Using Wasps to Control Caterpillars

Other Resources

For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service personnel.

Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Prepared by: James R. Baker & S. B. Bambara, Extension Entomologists

ENT/ort-07 April 1994 (Revised) March 1997, July 2009 by Steven Frank

Web page last reviewed January, 2010 by the webperson.