Hello guys, I noticed that these caterpillars(?) have been eating my lantana for a few weeks now, they seem to have reproduced nearby because a couple weeks ago I found one on this very same plant and placed it somewhere else (that one was green though, I don’t know if they’re the same kind) and I wanna know if they will permanently damage my plant, and what I should do with them, and if possible I would like to know what they’ll turn into (out of curiosity)
by superstarLuigi
3 Comments
Yes they will damage your plants by eating them. You can use hand removal or a BT product. BT is safe, effective, and organic.
I’m no caterpillarologist so I can’t say what they’ll turn into.
I don’t see a caterpillar in the photo.
Those are loopers from the Geometridae family of moths. They’ll definitely eat lantana but it’s a host plant for them. Unless they’ve completely taken over the plant, Id let them keep going. We need all the pollinators we can get.
Hand removal is the easiest way to manage them in my experience.