Caterpillar Feeding Damage
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Figure 1. Feeding damage caused by saddleback caterpillars (Acharia stimulea). Photo by T.K. Broschat.
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Figure 2. Typical damage caused by nettle caterpillars (Darna pallivitta) feeding. Photo by Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture.
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Symptoms
Leaflets will typically have entire sections of the laminalamina:
the expanded portion of the leaf (blade)
missing with broad curved margins where the feeding has stopped. Often only the midribmidrib:
see rachis
of each leafletleaflet:
divisions of pinnate leaves
will remain unconsumed. Caterpillars may feed on foliage of any age.
May be confused with
Sri Lanka weevil feeding damage is similar except that this insect leaves round notches about 1/4 inch in diameter along the margins of leaflets on the oldest leaves. Damage from caterpillar feeding is usually much more extensive and can be found on leaves of any age.
Cause
Several species of caterpillars routinely feed on palm foliage, with the species varying with the locality and season. A few examples are shown here, including saddleback caterpillar (Fig. 1) and nettle caterpillar (Fig. 2).
