Field Identification
A close relative of the pickleworm: green caterpillars that skeletonize leaves and web foliage before sometimes scarring fruit. More leaf-feeding early, fruit risk later in cucurbits.
Pale green larva with two thin white stripes along the body; adult moth is white with a dark border and faint markings.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Same as pickleworm—exclude with cover early, remove crop debris, scout leaf undersides for eggs.
Parasitoid wasps attack eggs and larvae; preserve them by limiting broad-spectrum sprays.
Avoid excess nitrogen that produces lush, attractive foliage.
Hand-remove larvae and egg clusters; crush webbed leaves harboring young larvae.
Bt products or spinosad on young larvae; thorough coverage to leaf undersides and inside webs.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Parasitic Wasps
- Predatory Beetles
Threat Map