Polka Dot Wasp Moth, Oleander Moth
Syntomeida epilais
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Regional
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Cape Coral, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Deland, Florida(3 reports)
Dunnellon, Florida
Edgewater, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)
Haines City, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Lady Lake, Florida(2 reports)
Orlando, Florida
Oviedo, Florida
Palm Coast, Florida
Panama City, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Sebring, Florida
Tampa, Florida(2 reports)
Tavares, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Zolfo Springs, Florida
Kingsland, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Tybee Island, Georgia
Bluffton, South Carolina(2 reports)
Charleston, South Carolina
Saint Helena Island, South Carolina(2 reports)
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Gardener's Notes:
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jimdog
The eggs are laid on the underside of new leaf growths. The other day I found 1 large caterpillar on my Mandevilla. I removed him with pliars (dont touch, they sting) and dispatched him with my shoe. Then looked very closely over the plant. I saw no evidence of eggs or other large caterpillars, but I did see what appeared to be aphids the same color as the caterpillar that were stationary and seemed to have a feeding tube stuck into the plant. I dont know if those were just hatchlings or if they were aphids. I broke off the branch and sprayed them with Bacillus thuringiensis spray and bagged them and ... read more
cwbTV
My research shows that a biological spray, BT (Dipel or Thuricide) will work. I will try BT and report back with my results. Here is a link to what I found: [[email protected]]
klutzo
MarkHathaway
phalvorson
Beachduffer
artcons
This can be a very friendly moth, probably due to it's aposematic coloration (warning, don't eat me 'cause I taste bad and may kill you) It's a slow flying moth that I have had on two occasions land on my fingers.
The spines on it's caterpillar are like small paintbrushes with many hairs per spine.