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Pest Identification and Confirmation: Common Foliage-feeding Caterpillars

How to distinguish insect larvae

Larva on leaf; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of diamondback moth Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Diamondback moth
Plutella xylostella

Omnivorous looper larva on avocado leaf, early instar, side view. Pauma Valley San Diego Co. Credit: David Rosen
Early instar larva of omnivorous looper, Sabulodes aegrotata. Credit: David Rosen

Omnivorous looper
Sabulodes aegrotata

Mature tobacco budworm larva and frass on petals, Davis Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Tobacco budworm larva Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Tobacco budworm
Heliothis virescens

Larva looped on tomato stem, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of cabbage looper. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni

Larva showing anterior end, 6X. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of orange tortrix, Argyrotaenia franciscana. Unlike the similar looking larvae of omnivorous looper, Sabulodes aegrotata, the tubercles at the base of hairs are not chalky white on orange tortrix. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Orange tortrix
Argyrotaenia citrana

Larva on ground curled in a C-shape, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Variegated cutworm, Peridroma saucia, larva (caterpillar). Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Variegated cutworm
Peridroma saucia

Larva on stem, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of beet armyworm Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua

Larva on leaf and fruit LOCATION: Lake Co. DATE: Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva (caterpillar) of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana. Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Obliquebanded leafroller
Choristoneura rosaceana

Larva resting on leaf, 1X; . Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
Larva of imported cabbageworm, cabbage butterfly Credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM

Imported cabbageworm
Pieris rapae

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