| I have a new White Pine tree in my yard, I went to look at it today and it was |
| There are two caterpillars that feed on pine needles; both are specific to pines so you don't need to worry about them feeding on other plants in your garden. The Pine Butterfly larvae are dark green with two stripes down each side. The Pandora Moth larvae are large, heavy-bodied, and have spines on them. Both caterpillars are susceptible to Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a bacterium that acts as a stomach poison. These two insects are present in small numbers most of the time but when the populations surge, you'll notice the feeding damage. Monitor what happens over the next few days to a week. Generally no control is necessary; the population of natural predators (birds love succulent caterpillars) will increase and take care of the problem. |
