Velvetbean caterpillar feeding on peanut foliage. Credit: Josh Thompson
Velvetbean caterpillars (Anticarsia gemmatalis) are an occasional late season pest which can have a big effect on a peanut crop. They can defoliate a field of peanuts in a matter of few days if left unchecked, making it important to monitor for this caterpillar.
Velvetbean caterpillars can range from green to dark gray and have distinctive stripes down the sides of their bodies. Sometimes they are misidentified as armyworms. A key characteristic is Velvetbean caterpillars wiggle wildly when handled. They are often seen in large numbers in peanut and soybean fields in late August and September.
The threshold for deciding to treat a field once the peanut vines have lapped is six larvae per foot of row. Even if a peanut field is only a week or two from digging, it may still be necessary to treat since Velvetbean caterpillars are known to feed on pegs after peanuts are dug.
For more information, see the Univeristy of Florida Velvetbean Caterpillar publication, and for insecticide recommendations see the UGA Peanut Insect Control Guide.
Former Jackson County Extension Director, Ed Jowers, identifying a Velvetbean caterpillar infestation in a peanut field.
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