Caterpillar Season

Spring in Marion County brings the annual caterpillar battle.

The tussock moth caterpillars love oak trees and most farms have beautiful oak trees, therefore come spring

larvae spin their difficult-to-remove cocoons on outdoor furniture, stored equipment, and the walls and soffits of our houses and barns. The hatch from the overwintering eggs starts in late February and early March, about the time that oak trees are beginning to produce new foliage.

 

Caterpillars mature and disperse to spin cocoons in early April. Males emerge and fly to the wingless females from mid April into early May. The wingless female lays eggs on her cocoon and dies. Our most common species here in Central Florida has just one generation per year.

 

Caterpillar management needs to be done before the larvae are fully grown and have ceased feeding. Waiting until the larvae are dispersing to pupate is too late.