Syntomeida epilais, the polka-dot waspmoth or oleandermoth, is a species of moth thought to be native to the Caribbean. Its larvae feed on the oleander plant. OleanderWaspMoth – Tips On WaspMoth Identification And Control.Oleanderwaspmoths are quite striking insects and waspmoth identification is easy. They are deep blue with white polka dots and a fiery red abdomen, lending them the name Uncle Sam's moth. Are Oleandermoths dangerous? How do you controloleander caterpillars?What do waspmoths eat? Is there a moth that looks like a wasp? Do oleander caterpillars turn into butterflies? Polka-dot waspmoth larvae, or oleander caterpillars, are known to ravenously feed on oleander. Rather than leaving noticeable bite marks, they consume the leaf tissue and leave the veins intact, leaving a skeletonized leaf behind. Watch as the spotted oleander caterpillar dines on an oleander leaf. Like its native North American cousin, the oleander caterpillar (larva of the polka-dot moth), the spotted oleander caterpillar consumes foliage of this poisonous woody shrub in south Florida. The oleander caterpillar moth lays her female eggs in clusters on the undersides of young, delicate leaves during her brief five-day life span. Caterpillars that are vibrant orange and black emerge from the eggs as soon as they hatch, and they start feasting on oleander leaves. However, the female polka-dot moth relies on yet another strategy to attract her mate. By vibrating plates called tymbals on the sides of her thorax, the female moth creates a rhythmic clicking sound, a kind of a mothy “yoo-hoo” to attract a suitor. There are two moths in Florida, the much more common polka-dot wasp-moth, and the more southerly spotted oleandermoth, shown in the attachments. The adult moths in these two photos are feeding on nectar from Mexican flame vine and Florida privet, respectively. Polka Dot WaspMoth, Syntomeida epilais caterpillar on Oleander, Nerium oleander their larvae plant. A beautiful specimen found on our bottlebrush in Palm Coast, Florida. OleanderMoth found in DeLand, FL. That Oleander Caterpillar grows up to be a polka-dot waspmoth (it's actually a moth but looks like a wasp). They are beautiful and harmless. One is pictured below.This is the OleanderMoth. Though it looks like a wasp, it is harmless. Polka-Dot WaspMoth is a type of insects which consumes oleander without visible side effects. It eats all parts of the leaves except veins. Common Crow Butterfly consumes oleander during the larval stage. The oleandermoth is a strange and beautiful creature. She masks herself as a wasp and not only sustains herself but thrives on a plant that poisons others. Most moths are nocturnal, but this little beauty is diurnal, meaning she flies during the sunny hours. The OleanderMoth is also called the Polka-Dot WaspMoth and the Uncle Sam Moth because in its adult form, its abdomen is tipped in red, the wings and the rest of its abdomen are blue, and both the abdomen and wings have white dots. Its long, narrow wings give it a distinctive wasp...
