Caterpillar Debunking Misconceptions

1. They’re a food source

In Africa, the larvae of moths (often called “mopane worms”) like Gonimbrasia belina and Cirina forda are widely consumed as a nutritious source of iron, calcium, vitamins and minerals by both rural and urban populations. The caterpillars are a highly-traded and important part of the diet, and have been shown to have a positive impact on nutrition, income generation and food security in many communities.

Painted ladies prefer certain flowers such as the native desert marigold and passion flower vine, and are often seen in monocultures of these favored plants. But they are not known to damage crops or spread disease, and mature butterflies also pollinate many flowers, including agriculturally important species such as citrus and sage. These are all reasons why the UCR study authors encourage gardeners and landscapers to grow more colorful wildflowers for painted ladies.

2. They’re a pest

MOBERLY MOST:

Armyworm moths are a planetary crop invader that can defoliate crops and cost farmers money. Last year, they devastated pastures of Johnsongrass, a type of hay. One farmer reported a platoon extending a quarter-mile across his field.

Sourakov says that with growing seasons lengthening, moths may be able to stick around longer when they get north, and the tools farmers rely on to control them might lose effectiveness.

For home gardeners, the best control is sprinkling plants with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) https://peaksfabrications.com/aftermarket-caterpillar-parts-debunking-misconceptions.html or organic spinosad-based products; they take a few days to kill caterpillars and need to be applied regularly. Another option is picking caterpillars off by hand and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water to drown. You can also bury or pull affected plants and spray the surrounding area with Bt to prevent ongoing damage.

4. They’re a pollinator

A caterpillar eating leaves isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s just what it does to feed itself. Caterpillars play a vital role in nature’s ecosystem. They pollinate plants like the tiger swallowtail and orange sulfur butterfly by inserting their straw-like proboscis into a flower to drink nectar and by rubbing against them.

Butterflies and moths also act as pollinators, using their wings to vibrate their bodies through flower pheromones. These species co-evolved with their host plant which means that many only eat specific native plants to become adults, like the monarch butterfly and milkweed.

Ensure you have a diverse landscape by adding native flowers and shrubs that serve as the larval food for butterflies, moths and bees. Leave leaf piles over winter to shelter bumblebee queens and the great spangled fritillary, and keep your landscape free of invasive species so caterpillars have plenty of places to lay their eggs.

5. They’re a fungus

Caterpillars are not fungi, but the larvae of lepidopteran (moth-like) insects. For example, the caterpillars of the Variegated Fritillary or Gulf Fritillary feed on passion vine, while Black Swallowtails favor pipevine and fennel. Some rumor-mongers have suggested that the color bands on cicadas predict how harsh the winter will be, but there is no correlation between banding and weather patterns. The periodical emergence of Brood X is an excellent time to study the behavior and ecology of these fascinating creatures.