Bajiaoding is the stinging slug caterpillar on star anise trees, and it needs to be controlled

Bajiaoding is a common folk name, mainly used in star anise-producing areas such as Guangxi, and generally refers to the larvae of slug moths, also called yanglazi or cimao chong in various places. Because they often gather on star anise trees, and their venomous hairs cause pain like a needle sting when they touch the skin, local people gave them this name.

In appearance, Bajiaoding has a soft body, mostly green, yellow, or patterned in color, with branched protrusions and venomous spines and hairs on the body surface. During the larval stage, it feeds by chewing leaves, often biting the leaf flesh into notches or holes. In severe outbreaks, it can eat all the leaves of a whole tree, weakening the tree and affecting the yield of star anise fruit. Besides star anise, it also harms many fruit trees and forest trees.

Control should focus mainly on integrated measures. In winter, overwintering cocoons can be knocked out and dug up during garden cleaning to reduce the source of insects the following year; when the larvae are young and have not yet dispersed, manually removing infested leaves is more effective; at the same time, care should be taken to protect natural enemies such as birds and parasitic wasps. When necessary, low-toxicity pesticides can be sprayed during the larval stage, and attention should be paid to rotating pesticides to delay the development of resistance.

If you are accidentally stung by Bajiaoding, first use adhesive tape to remove the venomous hairs from the skin, then rinse with alkaline liquids such as soapy water, and apply cooling ointments to relieve the stinging pain; if obvious redness, swelling, or an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical attention promptly. When going into the mountains to manage star anise groves, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers and gloves to reduce the chance of being stung.