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Lilly caterpillar
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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Lilly caterpillar
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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LILY CATERPILLAR FACTS |
Identification
The lily caterpillar is black with yellow and pale grey or whitish stripes running along the length of the body. There are two black spots like eyes near the rear, and a dark band about a quarter way down the body. The eye is reddish brown. The yellow stripe is bolder on mature caterpillars. The adult moth is reddish brown and cream. Lily caterpillars are a significant horticultural pest of plants in the lily family such as clivias, amaryllis, hymenocallis and crinums. They feed at night on the leaves and also damage the leaf sheath at the base of the plant. This damage often kills the plant.
Size
wingspan 4cm. caterpillar grows to 3cm
Habitat
common pest of gardens and public landscaped areas
Food
Leaves of lily plants
Breeding
Eggs are laid on lily plants. The caterpillar pupates in leaf litter.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Lepidoptera | | Family: | Noctuidae | | Genus: | Spodoptera | | Species: | picta | | Common Name: | Lily caterpillar |
Relatives in same Genus
Armyworm (S. litura)
Lawn Armyworm (S. mauritia)
Armyworm (S. unknown species)
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