Plant Doctor Archive

Caterpillars

I have a couple of caterpillars on my dill plant and would like to know what they will turn into. They are green, the same colour as the dill. Can you tell me what these will turn into?

Your caterpillars sound like they are "green looper" caterpillars, Thysanoplusia orichalcea or Chrysoidiexis eriosoma. They are the most common green caterpillar in the garden and affect a wide range of vegetable and ornamental plants.

They will pupate and turn into a small nocturnal moth with brown and gold wings. They can be quite damaging, eating large numbers of holes in the leaves. If you wish to control them you can spray with an appropriate insecticide. However, since they are on herbs, you may wish to remove them by hand.

Advice by Dr Dan Blanchon from Unitec's Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Bachelor of Resource Management.

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