How to identify and get rid of oleander caterpillars

If you cherish your oleander plants, both for their beauty and their toxic nature, then you probably understand the perils of their nemesis: the oleander caterpillar.

Imagine coming out into your garden and seeing your beloved oleander plants look a little bare and covered by strange orange caterpillars! That’s the oleander caterpillar, feasting on their favorite meal.

Oleander caterpillars are beautifully bright orange creatures that turn into dazzling, dark moths. The adults mimic the appearance of a wasp to protect themselves from getting eaten. Because the caterpillars feed on a toxic plant, they can also take in those toxins and taste bad to birds and other predators who try to feed on them. Fortunately, other predatory bugs and parasitic wasps don’t mind the toxins and help to control the caterpillars.

The caterpillars often feed in groups, causing severe damage to oleander plants. Each caterpillar has tufts of hair that protect it from predation, but the hairs don’t harm humans.

Oleander caterpillars are hard to miss with their bright orange colors and black tufts of hair. They will also have black dots in between the tufts of hair. The head is usually bare of any tufts. These caterpillars are usually found munching away on oleander leaves in gardens or in landscapes, leaving behind skeletonized foliage and sometimes completely defoliating plants if left unchecked. Spotting these bright caterpillars or noticing bare branches and lots of frass (caterpillar poop) are sure signs they've made your garden their dining room. They aren’t likely to find their way inside your home.

How big are oleander caterpillars?

They can grow up to 2 inches long.

What other pest looks like an oleander caterpillar?

They might be confused with tussock moth caterpillars, which also have tufts of hair but lack the oleander caterpillar's distinctive orange color.

Oleander caterpillars are primarily found in the southern United States, especially in Florida and Georgia, but they can be present in any area where oleanders are grown except California.

Fortunately, there are some methods for removing oleander caterpillars from your garden.

Follow these methods for pest-free oleander plants:

• Manual removal: Wear gloves, pick them off your plants and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
• Pruning: Cut off heavily infested branches and dispose of them securely. Be careful of the poisonous oleander sap.
• Water spray: A strong jet of water can knock smaller caterpillars off the plants.

Try a solution smart pest control plan from Pestie to keep your home pest-free all year long.