Cycads: Beware this pretty moth

They also knock the hell out of my Cycas thouarsi and C. revoluta!

Hi Robin
I stay in Montana, Northern Pretoria and in the past two summers I had to spray all my cycads to prevent damage to my plants.

Thanks Leonard and Lorraine,

I notice from http://www.africanmoths.com/pages/GEOMETRIDAE/STERRHINAE/zerenopsis%20le... that the distribution of this @#$%^&* moth is given as Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, so it has a wide distribution.

Hope I'm not talking too soon but neither of my Cycas (thouarsii and revoluta), nor my Encephalartos altensteinii, have been chomped this year but I keep a wary eye on new growth!

Regards,
Robin

Hi

May I state that this little pest is driving me mad, I can confirm that ANY Cycad/Cycas is the target!

When not spotted in time it will destroy any new groth in a matter of days. I have seen mature Thoursii plant being stripped in 3 days!

What I need to know is what can be done about these pests? I realy dont care for them at all, the poisons I have been trying on my plants seem to effect the groth of the new leaves (misformed). I have been experimenting with various sprays even lower dosages than prescribed but still the new leavelets are affected and will result in spiraling.

It seems that the Moth is attracted to the cent(?) released released fronm the plant when leaving starts, I have even observed these moths laying eggs on a Cycad groth crown effen before the new leaves have sprouted.

Any help for a desprate Cycad Lover?!

Please may you help me distinguish between the Polka Dot butterfly and the Leopard Magpie Moth, I have just taken a photo thinking it was a polka dot butterfly-but now am worried I could be wrong.

Is this an "indigenous" moth? It's very seldom that any indigenous specie is so harmful that it damages it's host plant(s) beyond repair. I've experienced the devastation these moths can cause but, if they are indigenous, shouldn't we be tolerating them? They must have some particular role in the greater scheme of things which we may be missing in our desire for a perfect garden. Oh!! The dilemma of the 'gardener-with-a-conscience', I confess that mea culpa as regards spraying to kill them in the past but if they're indigenous, I shall in the future (reluctantly!!) live and let live!

Googled Leopard Moths and Garden Ripcord and came across this wonderful site. Also got massive problems here in East London. Glad to read that Garden Ripcord will kill the eggs but does it damage the leaves? I have also found Blue Death very effective, but would prefer not to use it. I have found the eggs on mature leaves as well and not only in spring or early summer but now in January/February too.

Hi, I too had the experience of waking up one morning to a thoroughly devastated Cycad Villosus. While picking off inch long worms I noticed tiny beads/barrels (about 5mm long) suspended from many of the leaves. Thinking these were other creatures waiting to hatch and gormandise my cycad I gathered them all into the palm of my hand and stored them in a bottle (with closed lid) until I found out more about them. They were in fact the pupae of ichneumon or Braconid parasitic wasps which are natural predators of these worms. Realising that here, at last, was evidence of a working eco-system in my garden, I hurriedly tossed them back into the cycad to continue their good work. I'm pleased I held off with the spray!

I reckon that the cycad worms would have destroyed all the leaves by the time the Braconid eggs hatch and grow.
I seen very many gardens with permanently neglected cycads, where the Braconids could continue. Moreover, these wasp larvae eat nearly every other known caterpillar - I've seen them on active on many trees.
I would have rather sprayed the cycad larva and eggs.
But, seeing you are trying to do good, carry on as it pleases you.

is there a way of preventing the onslaught of tiger moths without poison.please help

Just seen hundreds of these on two Cycad in the garden. I'm in Ballito and it's spring so perhaps they are not only limited to late summer.

Hi Lorraine,
Thanks for a very informative website.
I noticed a few pairs of leopard moths laying their eggs on our Lebomboensis new growth yesterday morning, and was just wondering how long the eggs take to hatch, just so i have an idea on how long i have to find the suitable insecticide?

Kind regards

Neil

Here in East London we had a problem throughout spring and summer so I suggest people be vigilant then too.

I use blue death. They vigorously attack my cycads on the KZN south coast, to the extent of destroying all new growth and even male/female flowers, which were plentiful a couple of years back with many naturally propagated seedlings. I find they are no longer seasonal bound but year round after rain. I douse all new growth with blue death powder before and even after eggs are spotted as it seems to work. My question, as I am not there year round is: Are the generations genetically linked to a plant or area as since I started with this the return of moths has reduced. I will continue with this as much as I dislike using pesticides harmful to environment and other creatures in order to eradicate them as it seems they are void of any natural predators.

Hi Neil. I hate to admit I also use Blue Death in desperation on my cycasses but especially for the amaryllis worm that is destroying all my Amaryllis, Clivias and Agapanthus. Agapanthus used to be a Landscapers dream, now a nightmare along with another staple, Impatiens

I have picked about 100 worms off my cycads today - unfortunately too late to save many leaves. I couldn't understand why the birds were not eating them, until I read this article. Thanks for an informative article.

Good day. I live in Tzaneen in the Limpopo province. We have a huge problem with these moths. They eat every little leaf coming out.

I am please to see that there are some discussions on this issue.
Look, don't misunderstand me, when it comes to nature and her inhabitants I am all for save and let live, but when it comes to my Cycads I am very one side in this battle, my plants comes first!
I don't know how many are privileged to poses either a Relictus or a hirsitus, and to see a WORM (aka caterpillar) devour new growth on those plants that we have been awaiting in great anticipation for almost 3years is not fun or funny.

In my garden (300 + Cycads)we on a daily basis need to inspect all new growth for these eggs, to remove these eggs before they hatch I found to be worth the effort as when these small WORMS creep out of there eggs they are munching machines!

Now my reason for actually posting this communication, how do these insects find their respective hosts, there are some species that attract these moths more than others. could it be that some hormone of sorts are produced during leaving? If this be the case, then surely we could design traps that will attract these insects!

If you have an opportunity, please sit and note how these insects find your plant, it is like a shark zooming in on a bleeding prey!

ps: Don't use aerosol sprays on the new leaves (DOOM, TARGET, etc) as these will result in miss-formed leaves as mentioned by TONY!

Please comment.

Thanks

I have managed to get the leopard moths under control but noticed these today on one of my cycasses. Is it white fly or something else i.e. mould?

Thank you so much, Lorraine. It definitely looks like Asian scale. Will try to eradicate them and let you know. Looks like it's not going to easy.

Kind regards

Shan

I stay in Tzaneen. Leopard moths were observed in town 11 years ago. They moved east 4 years later +-12 km. I know they are in Letsitele 11 years later, and also further east. They sleep in big trees in the tops (look in the late afternoon). In time they will destroy the Modjadi forest, if they have not already started. I use Cypermetrine at 1% on all the soft leaves every weak. Blue death can burn soft leaves.

Hi Kobus,

We have been battling with the Leopard moth for the past 2 years.

We have been spraying them in all stages, killing the moth, and the larvae. But it has been an endless battle.

Even now in late April the larvae is in full action. They are not only attaching the cycads, the larvae eggs have been hatching on numerous trees and even bromeliads. So the matter is getting worse.

Best Regards,

Etienne Bosman
Magoebaskloof

I have many cycads of various species. As new growth appears I spray the new leaves with a solution of Kemprin (10ml : 5L) I add a few drops of dish washing liquid as a wetting agent. I've been doing this for many years and no longer have any problems. The month's seem to detect that the leaves aren't suitable and go elsewhere.

I have many cycads of various species. As new growth appears I spray the new leaves with a solution of Kemprin (10ml : 5L) I add a few drops of dish washing liquid as a wetting agent. I've been doing this for many years and no longer have any problems. The month's seem to detect that the leaves aren't suitable and go elsewhere.

I use the insecticide Knox Worm

Hi Lorraine

Thanks for all your advise above. I have simular problems and are wondering if there is something systematic on the market, so as the baby worm starts eating, he dies off at an early stage before causing too much damage

Thanks

Inus - Pinetown

Thank you for this very useful and informative website! As you are recording sitings of this moth, I would like to report that I found the caterpillars devouring my cycad in Pietermaritzburg. I've had them for some years now.

We had an infestation not long ago with so many worms on our cycad leaves we killed them off (see pic 1), but now we sit with an infestation of moths. Does anyone know what moth this is and what must we do? There are hundreds. Worst if the powder from the wings get on you it itches like crazy.

I discovered some of my cycad leaves have black spots in the leaves. at the tip of the leaves is a jelly like thing and some of the new leaves are deformed.
any idea what I can spray/
mostly on Natalensis and ferox
thanks

Hi, I am looking for some natural enemy. Life cycle: Moth, Egg, Larvae pupae. Pupae fall down into the soil - remove the soil and destroy them will boiling water or make a fire to burn over it. There might be some survival (pupae on plant where not visible). A yellow sticky trap near the plant might attract and catch moths that did survived.

Hannah Otto