Saddleback Caterpillar Control: How To Get Rid of Saddleback Caterpillars

This page is a general Saddleback Caterpillar control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of Saddleback Caterpillars. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of Saddleback Caterpillars.

If you’re a homeowner and avid gardener, you might have stumbled upon a Saddleback Caterpillar. This insect is mainly brown and green and has a mark on its back that resembles a saddle.  While the average caterpillar has little spines on their body that are harmless and superficial, the Saddleback caterpillar has spikes that can sting.

These hairs are mainly for self-defense and can prick the skin and release poison to anyone who dares to touch the Saddleback Caterpillar. Usually, a homeowner doing gardening outdoors will encounter a Saddleback Caterpillar and get stung by their hairs while picking up leaves.

Saddleback Caterpillars are dangerous because with a single touch of one of their spines you will receive a powerful sting greater than a bee or wasp sting, and in many cases cause severe allergic reactions that will need professional medical attention.

If these stinging caterpillars have become a problem in and around your home, our DIY guide below has the solution to make sure that it’ll be the last rodeo for those Saddleback Caterpillars.

Identification

Before you can proceed with treatment, you need to be sure that the pest you are dealing with is a Saddleback Caterpillar and not some other insect. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods and products, which can end up being a waste of time and money. Here are some identifying characteristics of Saddleback Caterpillars:

• The Saddleback Caterpillar can be easily identified because of its unique appearance that is unlike your average caterpillar.
• Ranging between 1.2 to 20 mm in length, Saddleback Caterpillars are a two-headed slug with the heads on opposite ends of its body and a distinctive mark in the middle of their backs, which is a mixture of dark purple and brown.
• The mark consists of a large dark purple-brown oval with a thin white border in a block of lime green. The green rectangle resembles a saddle blanket, which is how they earned their name.
• The Saddleback Caterpillar's vivid bright coloring may be loud and attention-grabbing but the reason for their outlandish look is to warn predators that they are poisonous and will sting to protect itself.
• Saddleback caterpillars are covered with spiky brown spines that are venomous which can cause a bit of pain and swelling if they sting you. While a Saddleback Sting can't kill you, there are some additional side effects from a sting is nausea.

Use the description above to help you properly identify the Saddleback Caterpillar on your property. If you are not sure, contact us and we will try to assist you in getting the correct identification.

Inspection

Once you have confirmed that you are dealing with Saddleback Caterpillars, you will need to perform an inspection to find out where the Saddleback Caterpillars are feeding and what is attracting them to the area. When doing the inspection make sure to wear gloves and long clothing, and use a stick to search around bushes and plants. If you find any you can drown them in a bucket of soapy water.

Where To Inspect

It is very rare that Saddleback Caterpillars make their way indoors, and will most likely be found outside near gardens and flower beds. Like most caterpillars, the Saddleback Caterpillar eats the leaves of many plants and trees and this is the reason why you may see them in your yard.

What To Look For

You're looking for Saddleback Caterpillars and the trees or plants they are feeding on. Use a stick to search around trees, ornamentals, and landscaping. If you happen to own oak, maple, elm, and citrus trees, search in these trees and around their trunk. Also, search your lawn, they sometimes fall from trees. If you find any Saddleback Caterpillars drown them in a bucket of soapy water, and take note of the places where you found them.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed Saddleback Caterpillar activity you will begin treatment. Remember to first read all product labels and follow the application instructions on these labels, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment.

Since most infestations happen outdoors, this is where you will apply treatment. Our top recommendation is Supreme IT Insecticide. Supreme IT is labeled for over 70 different pests, including Saddleback Caterpillars and is known for its quick knockdown and long residual effect. 

Step 1 - Measure and Mix Supreme IT in a Sprayer

Start by calculating the square footage of the area you wish to treat by measuring and multiplying the area length times the width (length x width = square footage). According to the label, to treat Saddleback Caterpillars you need to mix between 0.125 to 0.25 fl. oz. of Supreme IT with a gallon of water in a pump sprayer to treat 1,000 square feet. 

Fill your sprayer halfway with the required amount of water and then add the appropriate measured amount of Supreme IT based on your calculations. Fill with the remaining half of the required amount of water and then close the sprayer lid and agitate the sprayer until the solution is well mixed. You are now ready to spray.

Step 2 - Apply Supreme IT around your perimeter and yard

Begin by spraying around the perimeter of your structure. Apply 3 feet up and 3 feet out from the walls of the foundation. Spray in this manner all around the foundation of your structure making sure to contact window frames, door frames, and cracks and crevices.

Next, you will spray the whole yard via fan spray to get nice uniform coverage. Spray your whole lawn starting from the back to the front. Also, spray ornamentals and landscaping, making sure to only focus on non-edible vegetation areas. Do not spray fruit-bearing trees or flower beds.

Remember not to let people or pets enter the areas sprayed until 2 to 4 hours have passed.

Prevention

After eliminating the Saddleback Caterpillars, you need to make sure they don't make a return by implementing some preventative measures. Here are the following measures we suggest taking:

• Start by avoiding planting the species of plants and trees that Saddleback Caterpillars feed on. If possible avoid planting apple, basswood, cherry, dogwood, elm, maple, oak or plum trees.
• You should also, spray Supreme IT every 3 months around the perimeter of your structure and broadcast treatment, to keep Saddleback Caterpillars away. This maintenance treatment will help prevent future infestations.

Key Takeaways

What are Saddleback Caterpillars?

• Saddleback Caterpillars are a distinctive caterpillar that is known to frequent gardens and delivers a poisonous sting when touched.

How to Get Rid of Saddleback Caterpillars

• Our top recommendation for Saddleback caterpillar treatment is Supreme IT Insecticide. Apply the Supreme IT around your home perimeter and to your lawn and ornamental plants where Saddleback Caterpillars may be active or hiding.

Preventing Saddleback Caterpillar

• Preventative applications of Supreme IT around your yard and home perimeter will make it unlikely that the Saddleback Caterpillar infests again.