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| 1st instar larvae on Vitis rotundifolia |
Help again? I was checking the vines this morning and there are small black worms attacking in large numbers the leaves of the scuppernongs and muscadines. I would assume this is some sort of moth or butterfly larvae, but cannot find suitable information on the internet. Any ideas would help. I hate to attempt to get rid of them with the wrong pesticides if I have to use them at all.
They might be Hyalophora cecropia , 1st instar phase. I can't tell if the ones in your photo are as "hairy" as the ones in the links below.
http://www.prairiehaven.com/?page_id=8738
http://www.performance-vision.com/cecropia/cecropia.htm
The reason they don't show the coloration and size that you might see in photos of the big, green caterpillars is due to their immature phase.
I don't think you need to bother getting rid of them. More grape leaves will appear. They won't denude your vines. There are probably enough predators to keep them in check. Some type of BT dust might benefit.
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