Description of the Pest
The pink scavenger caterpillar occurs sporadically in the coastal areas of San Diego, Orange, and Ventura counties. When fully grown, larva is much smaller compared to other orangeworms. Pink scavenger caterpillars have light brown heads, black mouthparts, a dark brown prothoracic shield, and a dark pinkish abdomen.
Damage
On orange and lemon trees, the caterpillar is mainly a scavenger, feeding on dry or decaying fruit, dead floral parts, and sooty mold. Look for it mainly among fruit clusters and under sepals. During summer, larvae may feed on the rind of ripe Valencias, often near the stem end or on the sides of fruit in a cluster. The feeding is usually superficial and does not cause appreciable damage. In a few cases, serious damage has occurred similar to that caused by orange tortrix. A heavy infestation may result in fruit drop or decaying fruit during storage.
Management
Insecticide applications are rarely needed.