The Spotted Oleander Moth is part of a group known commonly as Wasp Moths (taxonomic subtribe Euchromiina). Although they resemble wasps in shape, they do not sting or bite - though most predators probably don't realize that. They are diurnal, meaning they fly during the day, unlike many other moths which are nocturnal.
The Spotted Oleander Moth is native to the Caribbean region. It's only been found in Florida for the last 30 years or so, and is seen primarily in the Keys and South Florida. We could find only one other reported sighting in Central Florida, and it was as recent as last month. Perhaps this species is starting to populate further north?
As its name suggests, the caterpillar of this species feeds on Oleander (Nerium oleander), a non-native flowering shrub frequently used in landscaping across the state. We don't grow any oleander in My Florida Backyard, but there's plenty of it in the neighborhood, and the relatively frequent sightings of this insect lately lead us to believe there is a breeding population locally.
A similar and more prevalent species in Central Florida is the Common Oleander Moth, also known as the Polka-Dot Wasp Moth (Syntomeida epilais), whose caterpillar is often considered a pest on oleander due to its habit of defoliating the plant very quickly and efficiently. The Spotted Oleander Moth is considered less destructive, probably because it is less common.
If you've noticed the Spotted Oleander Moth in your Central Florida yard, let us know in the comments. We're interested in finding out how prevalent this species is becoming in the area.
I live south of you and just saw this moth again today. I've seen them before. I sprayed the one I saw today with the garden hose, because I thought he might be a moth that defoliates my snowbush shrubs. I just looked it up though and it's not the same thing. This moth in your pictures and that I saw in my main garden today is actually pretty, with his red and blue coloring.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gardening ~ FlowerLady
FlowerLady - The moth caterpillar defoliating your snowbush is a white-tipped black moth. See this past blog post for more info:
ReplyDeletehttp://myfloridabackyard.blogspot.com/2009/06/inch-worm.html
We had to give in and get rid of the snowbushes. Good luck with yours!
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ReplyDeleteOops. My bad. Sorry for that long-winded "testimonial." Should've read it better before I commented. Never knew there was more than one species of this moth! I will surely look for this species in my area. The rear end on this one certainly looks different from the polka-dot-wasp moth I typically see. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me identify the polk-dot wasp moth I have been wondering about in my garden!
ReplyDeleteI have this in southwest florida.
ReplyDeleteI live in Orlando and I can definitely confirm that this species is all over my back yard! I just built and planted my first garden this year, so I regularly look up different bugs I find (both ON my plants and IN my veggies). My next door neighbors have a big oleander plant in their yard, too, so it makes sense now. Thanks very much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI live in Tampa, and I collected a few of the caterpillars while I was in the northern part of Tampa yesterday. It is my first time comming across them.
ReplyDeletePinellas county sighting of Oleander moth. Dunedin, Florida. January, 2012. It lit on my trouser cuff long enough for a photo op.
ReplyDeleteHey I live in Wellington, florida . Spotted in my backyard and im not going to lie when I saw it it hovered in front of me and I was terrified but I don't kill organisms unless I plan on eating them. So I came upstairs and hopped on my tablet, to figure out what it was and im glad to hear that this is a harmless animal and I know now the beauty of this bug! (-:
ReplyDeleteJust saw one in Tampa. Gorgeous! Thanks for helping me identify it.
ReplyDeleteLive in West Melbourne, spotted one today!
ReplyDeleteI saw one in Oldsmar (Pinellas Co.) in February 2012. I had no idea what it was, but it looked evil! Glad to know it's a moth and not a wasp. Saw another one a couple months ago, so they're definitely around. My white oleander often hosts the caterpillars, though I originally thought they were the fritillary caterpillars that attack my passionfruit every year.
ReplyDeleteWe live in Jacksonville and have just one Oleander bush about 6 ft. tall. We have been observing all the stages noted. The moths just started appearing, but there are many more to come as there are pupas lining our entire porch.
ReplyDeleteall over lauderdale and west palm with no gardens near. the cocoon on the walls!
ReplyDeleteMy oleanders in Winter Garden are covered in them. The plants are new this year and were sourced from south Florida.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter found one this morning. She is 6 years old and LOVES researching different insects, etc. Thank you for helping us identify it today. Found on my porch in Valrico, FL. My neighborhood is flooded with the Oleander plants. Thanks again!
ReplyDeletesaw one in Sarasota
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ReplyDeleteThank you for this information! I've seen quite a few of these in Orlando throughout April-May.
ReplyDeleteI live in south Tampa FL, and I see them often. I just collected one off the tree and I plan on watching it's life cycle. I will take photos and post them. I plan on releasing the moth in the same place. Many swallowtails thrive here as well. A large, elegant pipevine grows over the top of oleanders. Cool spot.
ReplyDeleteThey are living well in SE Florida..Wilton Manors too!!
ReplyDeleteJust found five or six of these on. Y pink oleander this morning. I'm in new port richey fl about 45 minutes northwest of tampa
ReplyDeleteI have one as a pet (puerto rico)
ReplyDeleteSouthern california...we freaked out
ReplyDeleteJust spotted one in my friends back yard in the souther part of Merritt Island, FL. She says she has seen quite a few lately.
ReplyDeleteSaw one in Neptune Beach this evening!
ReplyDeleteCape Coral Florida..yep..spotted oleander caterpillars just discovered eating away at my yellow mandevilla...anxiously awaiting whats next.
ReplyDeleteI have one hanging out on my patio in Cocoa Beach
ReplyDeleteI have one hanging out on my patio in Cocoa Beach
ReplyDeleteNever heard of or seen this little guy until today, he was all alone and flying along with me as I was walking around in the garden, a beautiful little critter. I do not have oleander plants though. I had to look it up on the net because it was one of the most interesting insects I have seen since moving to Daytona FL.
ReplyDeleteSaw one in my back yard in Cocoa Beach yesterday. I had no idea what it was until one of my friends on Facebook told me.
ReplyDeleteJust had one of these on my butterfly bush. I live in North East Orlando. If that helps you with the northern territory question. It's the first time I've seen one, but it's also the first time my purple butterfly bush has bloomed.I planted it for bumble bees like I did when I lived in Ohio but this is the first pollinator to visit.
ReplyDeleteJust had one of these on my butterfly bush. I live in North East Orlando. If that helps you with the northern territory question. It's the first time I've seen one, but it's also the first time my purple butterfly bush has bloomed.I planted it for bumble bees like I did when I lived in Ohio but this is the first pollinator to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe just spotted one in EPCOT today whole doing an insect photo shoot. We'very never seen one before today.
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ReplyDeleteWe just had one in our nectar garden! (Port Charlotte/East area)
ReplyDeleteSpotted one this morning in Sanford Fl!
ReplyDeleteSpotted one this morning in Sanford Fl!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing these for years in Pinellas county and never could find out what they actually were. I remember them all the way back to my elementary school days which are now 20-ish years ago.
ReplyDeleteThere are a bunch of the caterpillars around my house. They make very interesting, see-through cocoons.
ReplyDeleteWinter Springs Florida
DeleteWinter Springs Florida
DeleteOne today, Clearwater Beach. Dec 12 2016
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ReplyDeletePort Charlotte FL near the Harbor. It is a really pretty insect It did not stay still for me to take a good pic :)
ReplyDeleteI have a ton in my st Lucie. County garden
ReplyDeleteI just saw one today in Largo, FL. Never saw one before and googling led me to this page. What a cool looking bug!
ReplyDeleteSeveral in my garden near Melbourne Beach this evening. Scared me and my 20 month old. Glad to learn that they don't sting or bite.
ReplyDeleteSeveral in my garden near Melbourne Beach this evening. Scared me and my 20 month old. Glad to learn that they don't sting or bite. The caterpillars are really cool too. I will have to add a picture when I get one.
ReplyDeleteI just spotted one in my yard in SE Orlando resting on my passion flower vine! Your page helped me identify him - thank you. I got several pictures. He seemed to prefer the shade. I kept trying to get him to fly into the light for a better photo, but he kept returning to the shade. I think I may have gotten a few decent ones. Thank you for the info!
ReplyDeleteI found a caterpillar that I think it's Empyreuma affinis.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the long hair, I'd like to know if it is dangerous or if a human or an animal would have a problem if touched.. Thank you.
Jacksonville, FL . .. just found 2 on my patio while looking for Anoles. Beautiful colors, wanted to look them up out of curiosity.
ReplyDeleteCape Coral, FL... just saw one in my backyard on my lantanas.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a whole lot of these at my apartments in Southeast Jacksonville, FL this year!
ReplyDeleteWe are just south of Daytona Beach on the Florida east coast and we've seen dozens of this pretty moth in the last few weeks. They enjoy the blossoms on our loquat tree and also our little Cosmos garden and all its bright orange and yellow flowers.
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DeleteI live in Jacksonville FL and I just ran across a bunch of Oleander caterpillars
ReplyDeleteResiding in Ft Myers. Purchased a potted Oleander tree and about a year later discovered the bright orange w/blk spikes caterpillars defoliating this tree. Other than picking the caterpillars off one by one there doesn't seem to be fix. The tree couldnt be saved. The Oleander however, is NOT the only tree chosen by the Wasp Moth to lay her eggs. The caterpillars have been found on my Hibiscus Trees and Dipladenia Climbing Vine. More research discovered Thuricide BT which is supposed to get rid of these pests. Spray top and underneath the leaves, caterpillars will consume the leaf and injest the Thusricide. The caterpillars will lose their appetitite and stop eating and will starve themselves. That's the claim. Not a quick fix, so too early to claim success. I've killed two Syntomeida Epilais. Dark indigo with white dots on its wings and an orange mark at the tail. Very beautiful to look at but easy to kill because of the damage she does. Hope this is useful.
ReplyDeleteFRED R. NOVEMBER 18,2018 1:00 p.m ,I live in winter haven ,fl saw on today near my palm tree in the front yard
ReplyDeleteJuat saw one on my window on 6/6/19 in Miami Florida.
ReplyDeleteHi! I've seen several of these moths in our small butterfly garden. We referred to it as the "mystique bug" because we are nerds and it reminded us of the Marvel character. ;) Just today we found the caterpillar on one of our shrubs, so I looked it up and found d your blog. We live in Titusville, FL.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ocala, fl. & my wife just took a picture of a polka dot wasp moth today. It was in our backyard.
ReplyDeleteI live in Jupiter and saw these for the first time recently. A few days ago, I saw the cocoons and was confused about what it was until I scrolled back a few weeks in my photos only to see the caterpillar. I don’t have oleander (that I know of), but we have had desert rose plants for the last 7 years.
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