Spingid Caterpillar ( Herse/Agrius convolvuli)

Symptoms

• Caterpillars feed on leaves, causing irregular holes.
• They may eat the entire leaf, leaving only the petiole.
• Insect frass can often be found near the infested plant part.
• One large caterpillar can defoliate a plant on its own.
• When older caterpillars are present in large numbers, they can defoliate a field overnight.
• However, damage to the leaves may delay harvest, increasing the likelihood of attack by the sweet potato weevil

Management

• Handpick caterpillars from leaves. This is usually sufficient in small areas.
• Turning the soil over between crops exposes the pupae to predators and to the sun heat.
• Light traps can be used to monitor the population of moths.
• Manual removal of small caterpillars can prevent the build-up of a large population of older caterpillars