Caterpillar control - Ask Extension
Last year these were all over my Silver Blade Evening Primroses. I didn’t notice them until later in the season and then they were about 2 inches ...
Knowledgebase
Caterpillar control #874279
Asked June 23, 2024, 12:24 PM EDT
Last year these were all over my Silver Blade Evening Primroses. I didn’t notice them until later in the season and then they were about 2 inches long. I picked they off by hand, but they did a lot of damage to my plants. So this year I have been looking for them and there back.
Can you tell me what they are and how to best deal with them, and is there any preventive measure I can take for future years.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Sandra,
This is the larvae of the white-lined sphinx moth, which is one of the coolest and largest moths we have in Colorado. I wouldn't suggest control and to just tolerate the damage (which will not affect the overall health of your evening primrose). The adult moths almost mimic hummingbirds.
The specific species is Hyles lineata: https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/general-curiosity-insects/flies/large/whitelinedsphinxmoth.html
Like monarchs need milkweed to complete their lifecycle, so do other butterflies and moths, which are all garden "good guys".
This is the larvae of the white-lined sphinx moth, which is one of the coolest and largest moths we have in Colorado. I wouldn't suggest control and to just tolerate the damage (which will not affect the overall health of your evening primrose). The adult moths almost mimic hummingbirds.
The specific species is Hyles lineata: https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/general-curiosity-insects/flies/large/whitelinedsphinxmoth.html
Like monarchs need milkweed to complete their lifecycle, so do other butterflies and moths, which are all garden "good guys".
