Oleander Caterpillar (Syntomeida epilais) Introduced: Native of the Caribbean. Adults of the oleander caterpillar are sometimes called the polka-dot wasp Current Infestation: The oleander moth or the Uncle Sam moth. These caterpillar is found throughout Florida and moths are very distinctive and active coastal regions of southeastern states during the day. Their body and wings are wherever oleander is grown. a beautiful iridescent blue/green. Small white dots are Description/Biology: The female moth found on the will lay egg clusters on the underside of body, wings, legs young leaves. and antennae, They are pale and the tip of the cream to light abdomen is red/ yellow in color, orange. very small, and round. The oleander caterpillar can be confused with the Gulf fritillary caterpillar, however, Caterpillars are bright orange with tufts of Gulf fritillary caterpillars are never found long black hairs. They usually feed in on the same host plants of the oleander groups on the underside of leaves, caterpillar. Also Gulf fritillary caterpillars progressively, ultimately consuming the have spike-like projections instead of soft, entire leaf. hair-like bristles. Oleander caterpillars Seasonality: Found year-round in south do not have Florida and the Keys. stinging hairs. Hosts: Oleander (Nerium oleander) and desert rose (Adenium obesum). Also reported on bougainvillea, Natal plum Pupae are smooth and brown in (Carissa grandiflora), rubber vine (Echites Appearance, and are aggregated in umbellate), and mandevilla. depressions on tree trunks where they are covered by a thin silken cocoon. Sometimes they are Desert rose found under the eaves of buildings.
Oleander
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Oleander Caterpillar (Syntomeida epilais) Im portance: Oleander caterpillars can Prune off infested leaves or hand collect cause significant defoliation of the caterpillars, and dispose in the oleander and desert rose. It is the only garbage. W ear gloves when handling caterpillar pest of concern on oleander, oleander because its sap is very although a related species, the spotted poisonous. oleander caterpillar (Empyreuma affinis) may be found occasionally in south There are no oleander cultivars that are Florida and the Keys. resistant to the oleander caterpillar but it has been suggested that dwarf cultivars Dam age: Early infestations by the may be less susceptible. oleander caterpillar are easy to recognize. The young, gregariously Homeowner and Professional - feeding caterpillars Application of insecticides should be skeletonize the considered as a last resort for this insect. new foliage turning Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), a microbial it a light brown insecticide that is sold under various color. This is the trade names (Dipel, Thuridicide, etc.) is a best time to control bacterium that kills only caterpillars that this pest. If the feed on treated foliage. This product is caterpillars are readily available at garden centers. allowed to grow beyond this young Grower - Pesticides that can be used stage, they can include acephate (i.e. Orthene), bifenthrin defoliate their host (i.e. Talstar), carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin plant. Total defoliation will not kill the (Decathlon), spinosad (Conserve), and plant, however, if severe damage occurs tebufenozide (Confirm). Many of these year after year, the plant may be more pesticides will also affect the natural susceptible to other pest or disease enemies. W hen possible use B.t. as problems. described above.
Managem ent: There are several natural W ebsites: enemies that include stink bugs, tachinid http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/ flies, wasps, and the red imported fire ant ole_cpillar.htm that attack this pest. Also, viral, fungal http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/ and bacterial diseases can cause spotted_oleander_caterpillar.htm significant caterpillar mortality. Infected Authors: larvae are often dark in color, flaccid, and Kim Gabel, UF/IFAS, Monroe Extension easily "liquified". Leaving infected Catharine Mannion, UF/IFAS, TREC Homestead caterpillars on the plant will allow the Adrian Hunsberger, UF/IFAS, Miami-Dade Extension Eileen Buss, UF/IFAS, Entomology Dept., Gainesville disease to spread to other caterpillars. Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS, Entomology Dept., Gainesville Removal of caterpillar-infested foliage is the most environmentally-friendly method Photo Credits: UF/IFAS, Jim Castner, Eileen Buss, Adrian Hunsberger, and Kim Gabel of controlling the oleander caterpillar and is relatively easy on smaller bushes. August 2006
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