Caterpillars are the immature or larval stage of moths and butterflies. Their bodies are usually cylindrical in shape and either slender or robust. However, some are oval and others are flattened. They may be striped, marked with various color patterns or solid in color. They also may be naked, extremely hairy, or possess tufts of hair. Most mature larvae are 3/4 - 1 1/2 inches long, but some are much smaller and some may be more than 4 inches long. Caterpillars have three pairs of jointed, true legs on the thorax and usually four pairs of soft, fleshy projections (prolegs) on the abdomen, with a fifth pair at the extreme rear of the abdomen. The prolegs have tiny hooked spines (crochets) to aid in holding on to leaves and other plant parts.
Many species of beetles frequently cause injury to woody ornamentals. Both the adult stage and the larval stages are injurious and both have chewing mouthparts. Some beetles, such as lady beetles, are extremely beneficial in both the larval and adult form. Adult beetles vary in size tremendously. Some are less than 1/8 inch long while others are more than 2 inches in length. They may be any color or combination of colors. However, the most common colors are black or brown. The larvae of beetles vary greatly in feeding habits, body shape, size and color. Some species feed on leaves while other species feed on roots. Some are elongate with relatively long legs and may be brightly colored while others, usually grubs, are robust, C-shaped and white with a brown head. Mature beetle larvae vary from 1/8 inch to over 2 inches in length.
Grasshoppers are 3/4 to almost 3 inches in length, gray or brownish and some have brightly colored hind wings. The lubber grasshopper is the largest grasshopper in Florida. Adults often exceed 2 1/2 inches. They have very short wings, are clumsy and incapable of flight. There are two color forms of the adult lubber grasshopper. Some are yellow with red, brown and black markings and others are almost black. The nymphs are black with red markings.
| Azalea caterpillar | Dantana major |
| Bagworm | Thyridopteryx ephemeraefarmis |
| Fall webworms | Hyphantia cunea |
| Forest tent caterpillar | Malacosoma disstria |
| Nantucket pine tip moth | Rhyacionia frustrana |
| Redbud leaffolder | Fascista cercerisella |
| No common name | Glyphidocera juniperella |
| No common name | Episimus tyrius |
There are over 30,000 species of beetles in the U. S. and Canada and most feed on plants. Only a few are discussed here.
| No common name | Altica foliacea |
| Flea beetles | Colaspis spp. |
| Whitefringed beetles | Naupactus spp. |
In addition, the Schistocerca grasshopper complex and the eastern lubber grasshopper are the most damaging grasshoppers in Florida for ornamental plants.
There are several "stinging" caterpillars that feed on ornamentals. The most common are the puss caterpillar, io moth caterpillar, hag caterpillar, buck moth caterpillar, flannel moth caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar, and the spiny oak-slug caterpillar. They do not possess stingers, but have spines which are connected to poison glands. Some people experience severe reactions to the poison released by the spines and require medical attention. Others experience little more than an itching or burning sensation. For first aid: Place scotch tape over affected area and strip off repeatedly to remove spines. Apply ice packs to reduce stinging sensation, and followed by a paste of baking soda and water. If an individual has a history of hay fever, asthma or allergy, or if allergic reactions develop, a physician should be contacted immediately.
Like moths, beetles go through a complete body change or metamorphosis (egg, larva or grub, pupa and adult).
Adult beetles usually feed on foliage or flowers while the larvae or grubs feed on foliage, roots or bore through stems. Like caterpillars, some species restrict their feeding to a single plant, while others are general feeders. Usually they chew holes in the leaves along the leaf margins. Sometimes they cause scars on the leaf by chewing only through the upper epidermis. Many species of beetles feed during the night hours. The damage is noticed the following day, but there are no insects present because they tend to hide under mulch or other debris on the soil surface during the daylight hours.