Snowbush Under Attack by Spanworm

snowbush caterpillarBy Jane Morse, University of Florida/IFAS Pinellas County Extension Agent

Calls are pouring in about something that is totally stripping the leaves off the plant called Snowbush (Breynia nivosa). If you look closely you will find a yellow caterpillar with black stripes happily munching on the Snowbush leaves. This is the caterpillar or larval stage of the white-tipped black moth (Melanchroia chephise). This caterpillar is a member of the “inchworm” family of moths, also known as “spanworms”.

The moth (adult) is a daytime flyer, which is very unusual for moths. Most moths fly at night. The moth has a wing span a little over an inch with velvety looking wings. The wings are navy-blue to black and have white tips on each of the four wings. Their thorax is orange.

Moths and butterflies are very specific about which plant they choose to lay their eggs upon. For the white-tipped black moth, its favorite plant is the Snowbush. It will also use the Otaheite gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus), snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata) and possibly white sapote (Casimiroa edulis) for its egg laying.

white tipped black mothThe caterpillar (larva) that emerges from the egg is an eating machine and will soon devour the leaves of the plant. If there is a shortage of leaves the caterpillars may even start feeding on the twigs and bark. Host plants will usually recover from caterpillar feeding, but if there are too many caterpillars and no predators to eat them, they may kill the plant.

What to do: If you enjoy the moth and caterpillar for their unusual beauty you don’t have to do anything.

If you don’t like your snowbush looking tattered or completely lacking in leaves then you will need to kill the caterpillars. The best way to do this is to regularly go out and look at the undersides of the snowbush leaves. Look for salmon-pink eggs (smash them) or for the already hatched caterpillars. You may also notice that the leaves are starting to have chew marks.

When the caterpillars are small you can spray them with an insecticidal soap or use a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) product such as Dipel® or Thuricide®. If it rains, you will need to reapply the product. A spinosad containing insecticide can also be used. Many times if you catch the infestation early you can just prune off the tip branches were most of the caterpillars are located and dispose of them.

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Posted: May 15, 2009


Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease



Comments:

Tree Service Queens
June 1, 2012

A very good guide to beginning gardeners and arborists. One thing I can't stress enough when teaching about gardening is your placement. Look for whats above, behind, below, and what it could grow to block or overcome. Happy Gardening!

-Oscar Valencia

Julie Foster (jfoster@myoldsmar.com)
February 9, 2012

I was unable to make the live presentation today at 3:30 pm - any chance that someone video taped it for viewing later? Thanks!

eliot
October 27, 2011

Helpful knowledge.Especially 6 precaution. People should know about these things before hiring a contractor.Thanks for sharing highly valuable knowledge.
Foam Coating

Sandy
October 24, 2011

Recycling helps the earth because it could save animals, it could save birds, puppies and all kinds of them. A lot of the animals that recycling helps to save are the ocean animals. There are a lot of animals in the ocean that mistake trash for food. They're eating things that we could be recycling. Check out this video: http://youtu.be/-H51E2gwXwc

west jordan roofing
October 24, 2011

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Jey Raul
October 21, 2011

Nice post. For having proper air in your home you got to be right with your ventilation works.

FaithieP
June 19, 2011

Have you read Teaming with Microbes? Good book that is doing a lot to help me understand the good side of fungus and all the other tiny stuff in the soil. Who knew?

FaithieP
June 19, 2011

I saw several nymphs this season for the first time ever. They are some of the more bizarre bugs to have in the garden, but I hope they'll have a good effect!

Jason
May 20, 2011

thank you for this post jane! really helped me out. I thought these were death killing bugs! Take care

-Jason

Jake
May 1, 2011

We have the dog vomit slime mold for the first time in our yard as of this spring.

Thank you for this post, it is reassuring to see that what we are doing (organics ONLY) are making a difference!

Pat
April 18, 2011

Thanks Theresa, there was a host of the Slender Flattop Goldenrod, Euthamia Caroliniana, last Oct. in an open field now just knowing this species, and what I think is the Late flowering Thoroughwort, Eupatorium serotinum nearby in semishade making the bees crazy. Boca Raton, Fl. Eager-to-learn Master Gardener, Pat.

Anonymous
April 17, 2011

We have ongoing problems w/ this @ the city park where I work - I've tried rinsing the affected skin w/ hot water, which seems to help. I understand that cooking neutralizes the sting (people actually make tea from & even eat stinging nettle).

Web Design
April 4, 2011

This is not the first of your posts I've read, and you never cease to amaze me.Thank you, and I look forward to reading more.

The Dirt Farmer's Wife
March 10, 2011

Perfect timing as a handout at the nursery. Thank-you! Debra Butler, Golden Rain Nursery

mrsamantha
November 13, 2010

this is a lovely tree and I have a large one growing in my backyard, come see it email me at bcaptivated@gmail.com I also have some in 1 gall. pots.

Becky
November 3, 2010

What a cool looking mushroom. I think I will take the writer's advice and avoid walking in the dark woods to find it though.

Anonymous
September 28, 2010

I love both the beauty berry and firebush together. Always have flowers or berries, bright colors, drought tolerant to a degree... Nice plants!

Theresa Badurek
September 16, 2010

You are welcome Becky- hopefully you don't find it!

Becky
September 14, 2010

I will be on the lookout for chamberbitter! Thank you for the description.

Tampa Becky
August 31, 2010

Thank you for the excellent tips. Not that I'm complaining about the rain.

Anonymous
April 28, 2010

I promise that the training sessions will be fun an informative. Legislature is a great challenge and incredibly rewarding. I hope you will join me to learn more.

Robert Williams

Term papers
January 12, 2010

I really like the pic of winter flowers. Your article is very well written cant wait to read more. Interesting Blog I really liked it.

Anthonisen Finch
August 22, 2009

Has there been any discussion as to why the population explosion of the spanworms occurred this year? Was it related to the very dry winter and spring (eliminating many wasps) followed by heavy rains which spurred the snowbush's growth?

lawn care
August 8, 2009

Great links! Thanks for sharing!

Allyn
August 5, 2009

Great tips. I recommend that all DIYers mow tall in summer just to avoid additional pressure on struggling turf.
Organic fertilizers work well in summer to avoid excessive growth, as long as they have plenty of time to break down prior to those heavy storms you mention.

Anonymous
July 21, 2009

That was an important point you made about fertilizer use during this rainy time. Suggest all use slow-release fertilizers to avoid excess run-off of nitrogen & phosphorus into our waterways.

Jean@Yardworkerz
July 19, 2009

The lawn looks very poor.

Vicky
July 1, 2009

Pam,
Thanks for such great details. For the 37th Edition of the Festival of the Trees blog carnival, we talked about Survivor Trees. Your post was a fitting addition to the "Hurricane" section!

Vicky
June 11, 2009

If there are free seminars to be conducted in your community you must grab it. The skills that you will learn from it will benefit your for life.

Pinellas County Extension
June 8, 2009

Please direct all of your Lawn & Garden question to hort@pinellascounty.org or call (727)582-2110

Suzanne
June 6, 2009

I got to this page from reading your article about laurel oaks. I would love to chat with you about a problem that I am having with one of the oaks on my property- either by phone, or email. If you could oblige me, I'll send you my email address.

Now, back to reading about these orchids!

Jessica Burkhart
February 2, 2009

Great contest! :) Good luck to the entrants.

Anonymous
December 7, 2008

I am fully behind the termination of Sevin use for anything that might come in contact with any beneficial life forms.

Anonymous
October 18, 2008

I hope that this will be lots of fun!

The Bates Family
October 8, 2008

Anyone know where I can get some good rain barrels? Not the plastic kind. I live here locally. Thanks! Kelli

Anonymous
August 20, 2008

Great Blog! If any of your readers are looking for Planters
or Window Boxes
there is a company called Hooks and Lattice that sells all different styles and
sizes. www.hooksandlattice.com

craig hartwig
July 15, 2008

I briefly read this early this month and discarded it, but while in downtown ST Augustine I saw a palm with symptoms that could be a diseased palm. This was the other day in the plaza (used to be called the slave market). That would be a big jump from Manatee / Hillsborough County, but other palms around this specimen in the area are healthy and it has been in the ground for some time. It probibly is anouther disease or deficiency. I have been in the nursery/ landscape business for 30 years and hate to see the infections that are effecting our major trees, citrus, bays, palms, next? Craig Hartwig.

Mary Beth
May 9, 2008

Jane Morse is a super cool Extension Agent. She really gets the job done!

Mary Beth Henry
May 9, 2008

Jane Morse is a super cool Extension Agent. She really gets the job done.

Comments are closed.

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