What type of caterpillar is this?

[Dia]

there are a bunch around this year.

 

[Will B]

It's an Oleander caterpillar

 

[Dia]

thank you!

 

[Beach Runner]

And they chomp up on the oleanders like you wouldn't believe.

 

[Walton Outdoors]

Yup... they will tear down the oleanders

Here are some helpful links:

Butterfly Gallery - Polka-dot Wasp Moths, Syntomeida epilais

Oleander Caterpillar

 

[DD]

Jfunn!!! There they are!!! She was asking me when I was there what they were. Didn't have a clue, but saw tons of them. The ones she pointed out were...indeed..chomping on an oleander. :shock:

 

[Maystrong]

We have a bunch of them all over the back of our house (where there are oleander bushes) and I was wondering what the heck they were. So glad to know now! I love SoWal.com! So now the question is do we need to and if so, how, do we get rid of them?????? They sure are scary looking little boogers!

 

[rlesgal]

They are the reason I don't have any oleanders. I had to have the bugman come out and spray the bushes cuz I couldn't put enough sevin dust on them. 1 week later they were back. I finally let them finish the 2 surviving plants then dug up the stumps. No more oleanders for me.