Azalea caterpillar moth

The larvae of this moth showed up on my friend's blueberry bushes this year. I go every year to pick and I noticed a couple of moths but, this year there were lots of caterpillars. My friend said he had already removed plenty of them the previous week. I've never really noticed the caterpillars or lots of moths in previous years and I have been at all stages of the blueberry season. Before I came upon the caterpillars, I made the comment to my friend that something was feeding on the blueberry bush this year. A few minutes later, I found my answer. These are interesting, but pretty destructive little fellas, as they skeletonize the leaves. They are pretty easy to identify and have yellow (or white) and black lengthwise stripes with red head and legs. The colors become more vibrant as the ... read morecaterpillar matures, so they can look somewhat different during certain stages. They go into a characteristic "C-shaped" arch when disturbed. This can be seen in some of the pictures that have been posted by members.

Not sure these are all the same bug.

They decimate my azaleas every year, and seem to always arrive with the Fourth of July fireworks displays! If something beautiful were fluttering around my garden after the fact, I'd not be so irritated by the event!

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