We live in a forested area in North Florida, and everything is covered in fuzzy caterpillars! The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar, to be exact. And they may look soft and fuzzy, but you don't want to handle these!
Tag: caterpillars
What Are Bagworms? The Tiny Hitchhikers You Don’t Want in Your Florida Yard
Yesterday I spotted a strange little cocoon hanging from a leaf, and saw it start wiggling. Then a little worm popped out of the top and went back in. I had just seen my first bagworm! At first glance, these mini mummies seem harmless, but inside that tiny, camouflaged case is a voracious caterpillar just … Continue reading What Are Bagworms? The Tiny Hitchhikers You Don’t Want in Your Florida Yard
Attack of the Papaya Hornworms
One day my papaya tree was fine, and the next it was infested with giant brown and green caterpillars with voracious appetites. We found at least 50 Papaya Hornworms and had to hand pick them off the tree. Some of them did not want to leave!