VNBelow is an article about Nettle caterpillars treatments and damage symptoms.
The appearance of nettle caterpillars is very common on banana plants. If, unfortunately, they come into contact with the body, they can cause itching, redness, and irritation. Although we often encounter them, it’s important to understand this species of caterpillar and the harm they can cause. How to deal with nettle caterpillar stings? Let’s find out in the following article!
1/ What are nettle caterpillars?
Nettle caterpillars are one of the species of caterpillars that cause various diseases on banana plants. They cling to and quickly chew through banana leaves. Similar to hairy caterpillars, they have many hairs that can be shot out, causing itching and irritation.
2/ Life cycle of nettle caterpillars
Similar to other species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, nettle caterpillars also have hairs that can be shot out, causing itching, redness, and discomfort. The development process of nettle caterpillars includes the following four stages:
Eggs: This is the easiest stage to handle. Nettle caterpillar eggs are laid in clusters, initially yellow and later turning brown.
Larvae: Nettle caterpillar larvae are usually brown and hairy. The larval stage is when nettle caterpillars cause the most damage and serious harm to the plants.
Pupa: This is the non-harmful stage of nettle caterpillars. They remain in cocoons to undergo metamorphosis into butterflies.
Adult butterfly: In the final stage, nettle caterpillars transform into itchy butterflies. The butterfly’s scales cause redness and itching when in contact with the skin.
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3/ Are nettle caterpillars poisonous?
Nettle caterpillars have numerous hairy bristles, and when they come into direct contact with the skin, their hairs can penetrate it. The hairs of nettle caterpillars contain chemicals such as histamine. Direct contact can cause itching, irritation, and surface skin damage. In severe cases, it can lead to dermatitis and blisters.
4/ What to Do When Stung by Nettle Caterpillars
Here are some small tips you can apply if you unfortunately get stung by nettle caterpillars:
- Rub the affected area with a dark hair strand to remove their hairs.
- Use crushed leaves of purslane, sweet potato leaves, or arrowroot to rub on the itchy area.
- This may be a surprising tip, but you can catch the nettle caterpillar, dissect its abdomen, and rub its guts on the affected area to alleviate the discomfort.
5/ Nettle caterpillars treatments and damage symptoms: Types of Nettle Caterpillars
a. Banana Nettle Caterpillar
Usually gray in color, they turn green after a period of time. This is the most commonly seen caterpillar species on banana plants. They nibble on banana leaves, creating window-like patterns. As a result, the affected areas gradually expand, leading to leaf drop. Banana nettle caterpillars greatly affect the plant’s development and reduce its yield.
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b. Green Nettle Caterpillar
Green nettle caterpillars are larger than other nettle caterpillar species. They usually appear on fruit-bearing crops. With a green color similar to the leaves, green nettle caterpillars are a nightmare for many people during the fruit harvesting season.
c. Bamboo Nettle Caterpillar
Have you ever seen images of bamboo leaves infested with black fungus? This is caused by bamboo nettle caterpillars. These insects don’t directly destroy the entire bamboo leaves but create conditions for fungus growth, greatly affecting the development of bamboo plants.
d. Guava Nettle Caterpillar
In general, guava nettle caterpillars resemble the green nettle caterpillars mentioned above, but they are smaller in size. Additionally, guava nettle caterpillars have darker colors and longer hairs on their legs.
6/ Nettle caterpillars treatments and damage symptoms – How to Eliminate Nettle Caterpillars on Plants
a. Manual eradication of caterpillars
One of the commonly used methods is to use tools to catch and kill them. It’s important to wear protective gear when handling them directly with your hands to avoid itching and discomfort.
b. Use onions to eliminate nettle caterpillars
Onions contain a special essence that effectively repels various types of caterpillars and insects. If using this method, you can blend 100g of onions with one liter of water in a blender. Then, pour the mixture into a sealed container and let it sit for about a week. Spray this solution on areas where nettle caterpillars are present.
c. Use insecticides
The most effective way to eliminate banana nettle caterpillars is to spray 0.1% Vofatox on the affected banana leaves. Additionally, you can use abamectin, DIAFENTHIURON, emamectin benzoate, rotenone, and others. These are long-lasting insecticides that are useful in preventing the reoccurrence of nettle caterpillars.
In this article, we have shared the article about Nettle caterpillars treatments and damage symptoms with you. We hope this information is useful to you.
