A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the slimy little creatures ravaging my crops, especially vegetables — snails.
Well, they aren't the only culprit, there are more. And this caterpillar is one of them.
This is a dark morph of the Brown-stripped semi-lopper also known as Grass looper - Mocis frugalis, family Erebidae.
These caterpillars feed on greens and they often hide under the leaves, especially the younger ones. I see them on my pumpkin (ugu) leaves and they chew holes right through them. The leaves above it already have holes. If you don't flip the leaves over, you won't see them until the damage is done.
You can see how it's clinging to the stem of the young avocado tree - apparently having a rest after feeding on the fresh leaves. Lol. It had already eaten its fill and deposited its waste on the leaves.
If you look closely at the photos, you will see two small black balls on the leaf. That's its frass — caterpillar poop. A proof that it's been eating a lot of greens.
Although Mocis frugalis isn't harmful to humans, but it can defoliate a young plant fast. 2-3 of these can strip the new flush of leaves in days. And that black frass can also cause leaf rot.
One notable thing about this caterpillar is that it arches it's back when it walks. I believe you've seen it before.
Well, I didn't pick it up and threw over the fence like I usually do with the snails, I crushed it. It can't be ravaging my crops and expect to live. No way! 😂
Have you seen this type of caterpillar before?
This post is for PhotoFeed Contest Macro Photography 187
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