Night-Blooming Jasmine Caterpillars: Bt or Systemic Control

Pest Identification

Caterpillars (possibly bougainvillea loopers) attack night-blooming jasmine and bougainvillea on same nights.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Effective on caterpillars, safe for beneficials. Apply at dusk when larvae feed.
Bayer Rose & Flower Systemic: Applied to soil; taken up by plant; kills feeding caterpillars next night. Also controls daytime soil-dwelling pupae.

Systemic provides longer protection but affects all insects on the plant. Bt is more targeted.

Tropical Plants: Night Jasmine and Gardenia Pests: Neem and Bt; Managing Night-Blooming Jasmine Allergies: Neighbor Solutions; Indoor Care for Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum); Finding and Growing Night-Blooming Cereus: Foliage Identification and Winter Care; Why Your Night-Blooming Jasmine Isn’t Flowering; White Fuzzy Stuff on Night-Blooming Jasmine? It's Scale or Mealybugs—Treat with Oil or Soap; Night-Blooming Jasmine Eaten Every Bloom Cycle? Systemic Drench Kills Hidden Daytime Pests; Organic Control for Night-Feeding Caterpillars on Jasmine; Night-Feeding Caterpillars and Slugs Devouring Bougainvillea and Jasmine; Identifying Nocturnal Pests on Bougainvillea: Slug Damage and Control with Sand Barriers

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