Palm Leaf Skeletonizer
November 2, 2023
Introduction ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease,Tags: Caterpillars, Palm Caterpillars, Palm Insects; Palm Leaf Skeletonizer;, Skeletonized Leaves
Tag: Caterpillars
November 2, 2023
Tags: Caterpillars, Palm Caterpillars, Palm Insects; Palm Leaf Skeletonizer;, Skeletonized Leaves
The oleander moth – color and calamity
August 25, 2023
Most moths are nocturnal and can be colorful additions to our backyards often attracted to lights at night or found on the side of the house in the morning. There are also what are called “day-flying moths” which include the polka-dot ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & DiseaseTags: Caterpillars, Moths, Oleander Moth
Pumpkins in Northeast Florida? Yes, and…
October 27, 2022
Pumpkin! The very word whispers of fall and Halloween and Thanksgiving and golden pies. The fruit of a vining squash plant, pumpkin plants sprawl out 6 feet in each direction, taking up a lot of landscape. The fruit itself can come in colors ... READ MORE
Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Home LandscapesTags: Becky Wern, BT, Caterpillars, Pumpkins In Northeast Florida, Seminole Pumpkins
Animated pumpkin seeds – take a closer look!
August 3, 2022
Are your eyes playing tricks with you, or did you just see what looks like a crawling pumpkin seed? No, it's just a household casebearer! This seed-shaped, case-bearing caterpillar is not an uncommon sight in our area. Homeowners often ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS ExtensionTags: Caterpillars, Household Casebearer, Moth
Tomato Hornworms… They’re Back!
December 23, 2020
As if growing tomatoes wasn’t difficult enough in South Florida, enter the spectacular Tomato Hornworm. I say this, because it is a most attractive caterpillar, with it’s pronounced legs, bright green color and of course the horn! ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS ExtensionTags: Biological Pest Control, BT, Caterpillars, Controlling Hornworms, Gardening, IPM, Solanum Sp., Sphinx Moth, Tomato Hornworm, Tomatoes, Vegetable Growing
There are good stink bugs
May 20, 2020
My reaction to a stinkbug on one of my plants is to squash it as quickly as possible - I have no qualms about handpicking pests – even stinkbugs! However, in the same neighborhood as the "bad" stinkbug, there are "good" stinkbugs. That ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & DiseaseTags: Beetle Larvae, Caterpillars, Earworms, Spined Soldier Bug, Stinkbug
How do I attract the “good bugs?”
October 16, 2019
The nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping* are designed to help: Save water Support wildlife Reduce guesswork Improve water quality Make YOUR ideal landscape a reality! *(Need a refresher on the 9 FFL ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease, WildlifeTags: Beneficial Insects, Caterpillars, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Garden, Gardening, Insects, Integrated Pest Management, IPM, Landscape, Landscaping, Pest Management, Pests, Right Place, Right Plant
What’s Eating My Plants?! It’s Baby Butterflies!
June 19, 2019
Post authored by Susan Griffith, Florida Friendly Program Specialist. Spring has sprung and with it comes many butterflies! Butterflies start out in their larval form as caterpillars of all different shapes and sizes. They like to munch ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, WildlifeTags: Butterfly, Caterpillars, Longwing, Monarch
In a real pickle with pickle worms
April 15, 2019
I hate pickleworms for attempting to ruin my summer squash! They slip into my zucchini, pattypan, and straight-neck squash unawares until I see the telltale hole and frass. Cut open, the squash is generally hollowed out and full of caterpillars ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Pests & DiseaseTags: Caterpillars, Pattypan, Pest, Pickle Worms, Straight-neck Squash, Zucchini
Beware (but do not fear) the skeltonizer!
February 19, 2019
By Ralph E. Mitchell Insect pests feed in a number of ways and caterpillars use chewing mouthparts to make their mark. One such caterpillar that does some real precision work is the palm leaf skeltonizer. This small drab caterpillar slowly ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & DiseaseTags: Caterpillars, Coconuts, Mexican Fan Palms, Palm Leaf Skeltonizers, Red Latan Palms, Sabal Palms