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Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - Printable Version

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Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - leilaniguy - 06-28-2008

Heads up to anybody in Leilani. My niece found 2 stinging nettle caterpillars in the last 2 days while pulling weeds. I found one last year and hoped it was a stray, brought in on a pot. No such luck, obviously they now have a foothold.


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - Andrew - 06-28-2008

Great. Not.


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - Mitzi M - 06-29-2008

There are a kazillion of them down in Seaview and Kehena, especially now that it's hot. I have learned to expect them in my garden, so when I'm weeding I wear gloves now. Their nasty spines can get caught on clothes or the outside of a glove too (which happened to me once) but it's not nearly as bad as touching one with bare flesh! My friend in Kapoho has them too. Nasty things! I heard that the State is about to release a biological control insect for them. Nobody is complaining about that one![:p]


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - Pacific_Snapper - 06-30-2008

Thanks for the headsup. I could have been stung and in great pain. Just found two of them on Ti this morning.[Sad] I'm in the HSRE. I put them in a plastic container, and they're still eating the leaf they're caught on, not moving an inch. Hopefully vigilance will keep them at bay. Anyhow, will report it to the HDOA.

Sightings. Encounters with the nettle
caterpillar should be reported to the HDOA's
toll-free Pest Hotline at 643-PEST (7378).



RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - leilaniguy - 07-08-2008

These things are spreading fast. Val killed about 30 yesterday in a short row of ti plants. We've found them on several kinds of plants. There was an infestation near the back lanai, probably from the light attracting the moths. Bt is supposed to kill them, am giving it a try.


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - hooligal - 07-08-2008

leilanuguy, what is Bt?


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - leilaniguy - 07-08-2008

Bacillus Thuringiensis, a natural soil bacteria that kills the caterpillers through ingestion. It is sprayed on foliage.


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - JerryCarr - 07-08-2008

Those bug lights (that everyone probably knows are useless for getting rid of mosquitoes) actually do a decent job of killing the moths that produce the stinging nettle caterpillars. We have had far fewer since installing the light. The moths are a grayish brown and about the size of a dime. Ti plants do indeed seem to be a favorite of the nasty things, and I have even found them on the wild "bamboo" orchids and heliconia.

Cheers,
Jerry


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - Pacific_Snapper - 07-08-2008

The number of infestations goes up in September according to the HDOA. They're going to release some wasp to biologically control the caterpillars soon. Hope it'll work. I keep my plants trimmed so the caterpillars can't easily move from one tree to another. They don't seem to travel long distances like some 'pillars do.


RE: Stinging caterpillars in Leilani - hooligal - 07-08-2008

Well, here's to hoping that the wasps don't like the Native Kamehameha or introduced Monarch caterpillars better. I sure enjoy them.