PEST PROFILES: MOTH AND BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

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Budworms
Description:
Newly emerged Geranium budworm larvae (< 1/16 inch), are yellowish-white with brown heads and pale stripes running lengthwise on the body. Mature larvae may be basically greenish-yellow, reddish-brown, or even black, up to 2 inches in length and found in flowers of geraniums, petunias and nicotiana. This insect is more widely known as tobacco budworm. Eggs are subspherical with a flattened base, and white or cream in color. They develop a reddish-brown band just prior to hatching.

Damage:
Damage is most serious when feeding is in the vegetative bud of the plant, often causing distorted leaves. Large holes develop from earlier feeding as the leaf tissue expands. Plants prematurely topped by budworm feeding produce profuse sucker growth.

Life cycle:
Budworms overwinter as pupae in the top 2-4 inches of soil. Adults emerge April to mid-May. Eggs are deposited on plant leaves or buds. There are 5 or 6 instars with the development period varying from 21 to 25 days. Pupation occurs in soil. Pupae enter diapause in September. There are 4 to 5 generations per year.