Caterpillars on Knock Out Roses in Virginia Beach—Gypsy Moth?

Half-inch green caterpillars with ecru hairs/horns and a red dorsal mark, feeding on leaf undersides and consuming entire leaves in a jar, match gypsy moth larvae. They prefer oaks but eat roses when populations surge. They feed at night, hide by day.

Action Plan

• Hand-pick at night with a flashlight; drop in soapy water.
• Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kurstaki—specific to caterpillars, safe for bees.
• Band trunks with sticky barrier to trap climbing larvae.
• Check nearby trees for egg masses (tan, fuzzy); scrape off.

One generation per year; vigilance in May–July prevents defoliation.