JetsetBkk Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 I must admit, I have neglected my Desert Rose for years. It used to be beautiful. (Pic 1) And today I found a load of excrement around the base of the pot. (Pic 2) Didn't take long to discover the culprit. (Pic 3) There was even a baby one on another plant. (Pic 4) So what's the best spray to keep these b*ggers away? Thanks for any help you can give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Following, interested as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post worgeordie Posted December 8, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2022 It's a caterpillar of either a butterfly or Moth , I have had them on my adenium too , just took them off and put them on another plant away from it , they are only seasonal , and the leaves will grow back , regards Worgeordie 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Natural sprays include peppermint, or garlic, or can try growing sage in the same pot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post G Rex Posted December 8, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2022 (edited) Hi. This is the caterpillar of Daphnis hypothous - a beautiful Hawkmoth species - related to the Oleander Hawkmoth. I have these on my desert roses too - but the plants recover quickly - and seeing the beauty of the larvae and the moths outweighs the temporary carnage! (IMO). Edit: any topical pyrethrum insecticidal spray will get rid of them ???? Edited December 8, 2022 by G Rex Answer to initial question 8 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Croc Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Daphnis nerii - Wikipedia I feed them to the chooks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Rex Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 4 minutes ago, Old Croc said: Daphnis nerii - Wikipedia I feed them to the chooks. The other common food plant for this species is oleander. If larvae are taken from this plant - the cardiac glycosides ingested by the caterpillar could kill your chooks! Caterpillar Revenge! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khmer Surin Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 10 minutes ago, G Rex said: Hi. This is the caterpillar of Daphnis hypothous - a beautiful Hawkmoth species - related to the Oleander Hawkmoth. I have these on my desert roses too - but the plants recover quickly - and seeing the beauty of the larvae and the moths outweighs the temporary carnage! (IMO). Edit: any topical pyrethrum insecticidal spray will get rid of them ???? Wow is that the Camo version? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Croc Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 4 minutes ago, G Rex said: The other common food plant for this species is oleander. If larvae are taken from this plant - the cardiac glycosides ingested by the caterpillar could kill your chooks! Caterpillar Revenge! The wife has an obsession with the chooks, I wouldn't mind a thinning of the flock as long as they don't end up on my dinner plate. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoguy21 Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 Bit different to the Saudi Desert Roses 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, G Rex said: Hi. This is the caterpillar of Daphnis hypothous - a beautiful Hawkmoth species - related to the Oleander Hawkmoth. I have these on my desert roses too - but the plants recover quickly - and seeing the beauty of the larvae and the moths outweighs the temporary carnage! (IMO) My memory's going! Of course it's the Hawk Moth larva - I uploaded the first pic (somewhere) in 2015! That moth was on a cactus. I also uploaded the other pics at the same time showing my eaten Desert Rose and the dead larvae that I picked off it. But it did recover - so only one real attack in 7 years! I'll be keeping a sharp lookout for the next few weeks! Edit: "Edit: any topical pyrethrum insecticidal spray will get rid of them" - Thanks! Edited December 8, 2022 by JetsetBkk Thanks 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 My Wife is totally afraid of them every time she sees one she calls me and I have to take them off her beloved plants/trees. I just throw them in the pond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted December 8, 2022 Author Share Posted December 8, 2022 Just found a new one. Now sliced and diced: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Rex Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 2 hours ago, JetsetBkk said: Just found a new one. Now sliced and diced: Snap! here's a couple I am rearing inside - so the parasitic wasps don't get them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flexomike Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 4 hours ago, Old Croc said: The wife has an obsession with the chooks, I wouldn't mind a thinning of the flock as long as they don't end up on my dinner plate. Python thinned our herd out, survivors got given to one of our helpers, these were egg layers, costed more to feed them then what we got for the eggs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flexomike Posted December 8, 2022 Share Posted December 8, 2022 careful so they don't get into your beer - 555 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 11 hours ago, G Rex said: Snap! here's a couple I am rearing inside - so the parasitic wasps don't get them Do they thrive on Singha beer................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AhFarangJa Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 15 hours ago, Photoguy21 said: Bit different to the Saudi Desert Roses Yep, have dozens of them plucked from the desert outside Khobar. they are in a box somewhere waiting to be unpacked ( for the last 6 years )...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damrongsak Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 16 hours ago, G Rex said: The other common food plant for this species is oleander. If larvae are taken from this plant - the cardiac glycosides ingested by the caterpillar could kill your chooks! Caterpillar Revenge! I saw mention that one or the other of these two species was found in England (probably an escapee) feeding on Vinca minor - periwinkle, which I believe is also toxic, IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damrongsak Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 16 hours ago, Old Croc said: The wife has an obsession with the chooks, I wouldn't mind a thinning of the flock as long as they don't end up on my dinner plate. My wife has somewhere around 40+ bantam chickens, many roosters. She is going to thin the flock and probably get rid of them all, as they destroy the plantings. She now chucks all the eggs so no more will hatch. Recently one little hen seemed to inherit a bunch of eggs - she had about a dozen chicks following her! Seems like cats or something get quite a few of the hatchlings. On my recent 2 month visit to our house, I made friends with one old rooster and a couple others were getting used to me. But back on track, these moths are beautiful! I took an entomology course in college. I admire those folks who can distinguish all these similar species, especially considering regional variations and whatnot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Rex Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Damrongsak said: I saw mention that one or the other of these two species was found in England (probably an escapee) feeding on Vinca minor - periwinkle, which I believe is also toxic, IIRC. The Daphnis genus are found throughout Europe, Asia, Northern Australia & Northern Africa. Daphnis nerii, the Oleander Hawkmoth is a regularly found in the UK. Daphnis nerii & D. hypothous can be found in Thailand. Sorry! This is a passion of mine. I travelled, collected and studied moths for more than 40 years. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d4dang Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 my ex had chickens but I put the caterpillars in her favorite curry...after she left the chickens were next 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted December 9, 2022 Author Share Posted December 9, 2022 (edited) 3 more of the boogers today. RIP. Actually, R.I.Pieces. Edited December 9, 2022 by JetsetBkk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoguy21 Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 11 hours ago, AhFarangJa said: Yep, have dozens of them plucked from the desert outside Khobar. they are in a box somewhere waiting to be unpacked ( for the last 6 years )...... Used to get some really big ones on the road from Dharan to Safaniya 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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