4/4/2023 0 Comments White marked tussock moth![]() ![]() Bt is a bacterium that is specific for caterpillars (butterflies and moths) and they must ingest it to be effective. If the caterpillars are feeding on a small tree, one could treat with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sold as a dust (Dipel) or liquid (Thuricide). They don't have the true urticating hairs of stinging caterpillars but they definitely produce hairs that some people are sensitive to.Ĭontrol: There are several options for control. Since then, more reports have come my way, so the best advice is to not handle the caterpillars without gloves. It was severe enough that four children were taken by their parents to their pediatricians for cause and treatment. Contact with the caterpillars caused an itchy burning sensation. Last year was the first in my tenure with extension that I was asked to identify a caterpillar that was causing skin problems for a group of preschoolers. The good news is that only about 50 percent of the population survives due to parasites feeding on them. Because of the earlier than normal outbreak this year, chances are good that we will have at least two generations this growing season. Eileen Buss, entomologist with the University of Florida, said that this is one of the worst outbreaks that she has seen since 2001. The eggs may hatch in May for a second generation or winter over until next spring. After mating, females lay eggs directly on the cocoons, creating a hairy egg mass. Upon emergence they emit pheromones to attract males, their winged counterparts. Tussock moths are a little unusual because all the adult females have no wings. They attach themselves with a material that seems like Super Glue, making them difficult to remove.Ĭaterpillars normally pupate in early to mid-April and adults emerge in a few weeks. Cocoons are about an inch long, oval in shape, tan in color and contain hairs of the larvae. Protected areas, such as under a picnic bench or along the eaves of a house, are ideal. When caterpillars are ready to make a cocoon (pupate), they either make it in the bark grooves along the trunks/branches of the host tree or crawl to a nearby structure like a house. ![]()
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