Caterpillar damaging Cordia
Damage
Problem Description
At a plant nursery in Mangilao, Cordia subcordata trees are being damaged by a small caterpillar which bores into petioles and damages growing tips. Aubrey Moore visited the nursery on June 30. Caterpillars where collected. Some of these will be reared to the adult stage for identification.
=A Note on the Host Plant
The nurseyman identified the host plant as "koa". According to the reference below, "koa" is a common name for Cordia subcordata used only on Guam, where it is also known as xxxxxxxxx. This plant is very different to what is referred to as "koa" in Hawaii, Acacia koa.
Recommendations
A systemic insecticide is required to kill this caterpillar. Contact insecticides and those that must be injected, such as Dipel(r) may not be effective because the caterpillar is protected from contact by its boring behavior.
