Comments on: The Bird Poop Caterpillar

By: Cindy Thomson

Cindy Thomson — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:28:04 +0000

I live in Mexico just south of Guadalajara and found the larva on my new lemon tree today. Thanks for the identification information.

By: Barbara Higgason

Barbara Higgason — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:04:38 +0000

I live in Dallas and have a courtyard with numerous plants, one of which is a lime tree. I discovered what appeared to be bird poop on the leaves one morning.. It was a puzzle as there were numerous droppings and nothing above the plant to support birds. I brushed them off and found them again a few days later. As I found numerous leaves partially eaten, I assumed these were caterpillars. However, I have never seen the like before so decided to investigate. Ergo, I found your posting. And I thank you for it. I don’t want to harm them but I also have fought hard to keep that lime tree alive. I would love to seem transform but I’m not sure how to keep them alive until then and save my tree too. Suggestions?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 03:50:36 +0000

We are in Korea and saw the mother laying eggs on our potted lemon trees. At first my wife wanted to smash the eggs, but we decided to put them in a big container with some leaves and sticks in it, to see if they hatch. Indeed, they came out looking like little bird poops and are happily munching on the leaves we give them. It’s getting into early autumn now, so I guess they might stay put until spring rolls around again.

Do they cocoon and hibernate for the winter?

By: Vicki montage

Vicki montage — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 23:42:08 +0000

Would they appear in Canada on a non citrus tree? I see many cocoons on my tree 6 Jul. there is not a citrus tree in site! Would it be any other caterpillar?

By: Sherry Goetsch

Sherry Goetsch — Tue, 18 May 2021 12:11:08 +0000

Wow! I almost killed it but my husband wanted to research it out. I have a butterfly “house’ and would like to let the kids watch it grow into a butterfly. How could I accomplish that? Give the caterpillar lots of citrus leaves daily? We’ve raised painted ladies before, and have captured video of a monarch emerging from its chrysalis. God makes some amazing creatures. Thank you for sharing!

By: kathleen Forrest

kathleen Forrest — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 19:18:05 +0000

Should I move my caterpillar? The temperature is getting down to 30 this evening

By: Yvonne Negron

Yvonne Negron — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 05:29:40 +0000

Oh, I am so sad. We started a garden during COVID and found grubs in our soil. Picked them out and put them in the bird box feeder. Then beautiful horny worms on our ghost pepper bush and tomato plants. And, now this evening picked 3 of these poop caterpillars off of our young lemon tree only to find out they turn into the majestic swallowtail butterflies. They did let off a stink, too! What’s the best way to get rid of them without killing them?

By: Jenn Opdahl

Jenn Opdahl — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:45:58 +0000

I also live in Southern California, and I had never seen these until this fall! This is very helpful. I don’t like the idea of killing them. If I want to remove them from my lime and lemon trees, what should I do with them?

By: Scott H.

Scott H. — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 23:16:38 +0000

Just found them on my Meyers Lemon tree. Relocated them to my dwarf mandarin orange tree since they don’t seem to like it. Weird looking creatures. I wonder if you collected them in a box and fed them citrus leaves, similar to silk worms, if you could get them to spin cocoons and transform into butterflies?

By: Becky Robert

Becky Robert — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 12:49:04 +0000

In reply to pat fletcher.

Sorry to hear they are taking a toll on your plants. It is always frustrating when the bugs “win”.

Happy Gardening,
Becky Robert
Scott Arboretum