What Are the Natural Enemies of Caterpillars? A Roundup of Common Species

Caterpillars usually refer to the larvae of Lepidoptera insects, and because these larvae almost all have toxic bristles on their bodies, they are named caterpillars. So what are the natural enemies of caterpillars?

1. What are the natural enemies of caterpillars?

The natural enemies of caterpillars are some birds and insects, such as sparrows, magpies, woodpeckers, parasitic wasps, and so on. If you want to kill caterpillars, using insecticides is still faster and more effective.

Because the surface of caterpillars is toxic, they are not good-tasting food, so there are relatively few birds and insects that like to eat caterpillars. Caterpillars have also caused large-scale pest outbreaks.

2. How are caterpillars controlled?

Caterpillars are toxic, and ordinary contact with them can cause physical discomfort. Some caterpillars are even highly venomous, such as the highly toxic twelve-spot, which is a moth larva living in southern Brazil. It is said that many people die every year from the venom of this caterpillar.

If the place you are going has many caterpillars, it is best to wear long sleeves and long pants, bring a hat, and not linger under trees. If a caterpillar falls on you, you can gently shake it off; do not swat it with your hand.

If you accidentally come into contact with the toxic hairs, you can use medical adhesive tape or clear tape to stick the toxic hairs away. Do not scratch or touch randomly. For those with severe itching and pain, or systemic symptoms, or a serious rash, antihistamine drugs such as Clarityn and chlorpheniramine that can relieve itching may be taken orally. Severe cases need to be sent to the hospital promptly for treatment.

Specific control methods:

1. In orchards, black light lamps or high-pressure mercury lamps can be placed;

2. During winter pruning, pay attention to cutting off egg masses on small branches and burning them in a concentrated way. In spring, the webs spun by larvae on trees are obvious. Before the larvae disperse, capture and kill them promptly. After dispersal, the larvae can be captured and killed by shaking the trees;

3. Some chemical agents can also be used to spray and kill caterpillars, such as 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution, or 52.25% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, 90% trichlorfon crystal at 1000 times dilution, 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, 25% ikaruga emulsifiable concentrate or 50% hunmiewei emulsifiable concentrate or 50% parathion emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution, etc.