Chief among the developing caterpillar pests is the southern armyworm. This insect is native to the warmer regions of both American continents.
About 30 to 40 days on average are required for a complete generation, with environmental factors restraining even more reproduction.
In northern Florida moths which produce this caterpillar can be found throughout the year and have the capacity to withstand several days of freezing weather. Eggs are laid in clusters and covered with scales from the body of the moth.
When they hatch, the problems for gardeners and homeowners begin.
Small now, they will continue to grow each day. Even alone a single individual can eat large volumes. In groups they are a defoliating plague to gardeners and create a denuded appearance to the plants that experience their presence.
The larvae undergo six instars or developmental phases as they grow to attain a terminal length of about an inch and a half. In this stage of life they are defoliators and feed aggressively for the first few weeks, often skeletonizing leaves with only the main stems remaining.
As they grow they will bore readily into fruit, often damaging it and rendering it unusable. When stressed by a lack of food they will eat portions of branches, bore into stem tissue, and attack tubers near the surface of the soil.
Larvae usually are found on the lower surface of leaves, well hidden from birds and other potential predators. With no defensive ability except hiding in the foliage, they are most active at night.
The length of the larval stage is normally 14 to 20 days, but weather conditions and temperature can influence the timing. All this time they are eating, and the menu offerings in panhandle Florida are plentiful.
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