Caterpillars
Overview
Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies.
In horticultural crops they cause chewing damage to:
- leaves
- flowers
- fruit
- growing points
Commonly affected crops
Symptoms
Typical symptoms include:
- holes in leaves
- chewed leaf edges
- frass
- damaged flowers
- fruit feeding
- hidden larvae inside dense canopy
Risk conditions
| Condition | Risk |
|---|---|
| Warm weather | High |
| Outdoor crop exposure | High |
| Open vents/doors | Moderate |
| Dense canopy | Moderate |
| Poor inspection | High |
Monitoring
Inspect:
- leaf undersides
- crop edges
- fruit clusters
- flowers
- dense canopy areas
Look for larvae, eggs and frass.
IPM approach
Useful strategies:
- early inspections
- removal of small infestations
- monitoring moth activity
- crop hygiene
- preservation of natural enemies
Key message
Caterpillar damage is easiest to manage when larvae are found early, before they become large and hidden.