Pests, Beneficials, Diseases and Disorders of Mangoes - Northern ...

Flower caterpillars
(Family Geometridae, Lymantriidae,
Noctuidae, Pyralidae, Tortricidae)
Description: There are at least 9 species of caterpillars that feed on
flower panicles.
Eggs: Usually circular or oval in shape. Vary in colour.
Immatures: Caterpillars are assorted colours and sizes, usually small
and hard to see when they first hatch. Caterpillars can grow up to
15 mm in length.
Adults: Moths are small, usually grey or brown in colour and nocturnal.
Life Cycle: Eggs are laid singly on flowers and hatch after 1–2 days
into caterpillars. One generation takes up to 30 days to develop into
adults during the flowering period. Caterpillars may occur on trees at
different times if there is more than one flowering period.
Similar to: The webbing is similar to that of small spiders in flower
panicles, but contains faecal matter.
Damage: Caterpillars web clusters of flowers together as they feed,
forming matted silk and debris (frass) where they eventually pupate.
They may also damage leaves and young fruit.
Control Strategies: A registered insecticide (that has a minimal effect
on pollinators) which is applied while the caterpillars are newly hatched
or at a young stage is sufficient to reduce populations. Multiple or
extended flowerings favour the build-up of populations.
Monitoring: Inspect flowers every 2–3 days for webbing or larvae.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
30