Stinging caterpillars in Leilani

[leilaniguy]

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.

[Andrew]

Great. Not.

[Mitzi M]

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]

[Pacific_Snapper]

Thanks for the headsup. I could have been stung and in great pain. Just found two of them on Ti this morning.[] 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).

[leilaniguy]

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.

[hooligal]

leilanuguy, what is Bt?

[leilaniguy]

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

[JerryCarr]

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

[Pacific_Snapper]

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.

[hooligal]

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