Unknown catipillar - Syntomeida epilais

Wrong placement

This photo should be under the Oleander Moth not the IO Moth....

… Carol Campion, 19 September, 2006 - 9:09pm

It is

check the taxonimic tree at the top of the page.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 20 September, 2006 - 7:22am

Looks like an Oleander Moth Caterpillar

- Syntomeida epilais - it usually feeds on Oleanders, but they are in the same family (Apocynaceae) as Mandevilla, so perhaps this is an alternate host for them.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 13 September, 2006 - 8:01am

Oleander Moth Caterpillar

Thank you for the name of this catipillar. They are really ruining my trees and I hate to kill them.... Any suggestions?

… Carol Campion, 13 September, 2006 - 8:05am

There are really only two choices

- let the caterpillars live, or have a good-looking plant. By the time the caterpillars get big enough to notice, though, they are almost finished eating, so they'll be gone in a few days and then you can tidy up the bush. Personally I prefer seeing these intereting caterpillars to having a perfect plant. : )

By the way, it occurs to me these might be caterpillars of another member of the same moth tribe, that we don't have recorded yet. Do you recognize the adults as any of these?

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 13 September, 2006 - 8:36am

Oleander Moth

I agree as I love to watch them. It it definitely the Oleander Moth as I recognize the wasp I spoke about flying around the plants...
Thank you again for your help.

… Carol Campion, 13 September, 2006 - 8:45am

Can you add a photo from another angle (from above)?

I'm thinking this might be a very closely related moth, Syntomeida ipomoeae, also known in FL. The way you tell them apart is by the absence of lateral setal lashes - that detail isn't clear from this angle. Another shot ought to be enough to nail down the ID either way. You can click on "add image" under this one and then browse to a second image on your computer, if you have one.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 13 September, 2006 - 10:02am

Oleander Moth

I added another photo that I had also taken. Hope it helps, if not I will take more tomorrow. Thank you for your time... Carol

… Carol Campion, 13 September, 2006 - 5:11pm