Author Topic: Should I get rid of these or live and let live  (Read 1479 times)

Orkine

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Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« on: June 03, 2018, 04:42:52 PM »
I have had some time caterpillars doing a number on some of my cherimoya root stock.  I was out picking them off and came across these two much larger specimens.
They are pond apple seeds I started and I don't have a problem with them having some of the leaves.
I just want to know what these are and if I should be worried and get rid of them or if they are young of some lovely butterfly I should let live.




Jesssfl27

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Re: Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2018, 04:52:24 PM »
Looks like a fruit piercing moth caterpillar from the genus gonodonta. Get rid of it. They can damage nearby fruit. 

Orkine

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Re: Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2018, 08:46:24 PM »
Done, thanks.  They munch fast too.
They had finished the one leaf and were moving on to others when I picked them off.
I assume there are others and will have to watch closely.

Perhaps it is time to spray.

Jesssfl27

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Re: Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2018, 03:02:09 AM »
Quite unfortunate too since they’re pretty cool looking with the black and orange. I find them every once in a while on my custard apple and toss em on the concrete for the birds.

Mike T

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Re: Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2018, 04:21:50 AM »
A few dazzling species Graphium butterflies live on garden Annonas in my area but none of the fruit piercing moths do.

Jackson

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Re: Should I get rid of these or live and let live
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2018, 01:39:39 PM »
You might make some new friends if you do that.
toss em on the concrete for the birds.
I had some large planters stacked outside for a few months. A couple of months ago I took two from the stack to use and found a couple of cockroaches in the bottom of one, UGH!!! I dumped them out in the backyard and a gray catbird immediately grabbed them. Now, whenever I am in the back rooting around in one of my pots, he lands at my feet looking for a treat. I would love to feed him something, but I am not keeping any cockroaches around to keep him happy, that's for sure!