Cherry, flowering (Prunus)-Western red-humped caterpillar

Oedemasia salicis

Pest description and damage The western redhumped caterpillar is the larva of a 1.0-inch, gray-brown moth. The mature larvae can be up to 1.25 inches in length and are yellow with a red head and the fourth segment is humped. The body has orange, black, and white lengthwise stripes with dark fleshy "spikes." Young redhumped caterpillars are found in clustered colonies that disperse as they mature. They eat entire leaves (except the major veins) and can cause considerable defoliation. This insect has been a problem in cherry, rose, and other hosts east of the Cascade Mountains.

Management-cultural control

Individual larvae may be picked off, and entire colonies can be cut out.

Management-chemical control

See Table 2 in:

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