Rubber-tree-caterpillar
Guides
Lymire
Edwards' wasp moth (Lymire edwardsii)
Lymire is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Francis Walker in 1854. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. The most well-documented species, Lymire edwardsii (Edwards' wasp moth), is known as a significant pest of Ficus trees in Florida. Most species in this genus remain poorly studied with limited biological data available.
Lymire edwardsii
Edwards' Wasp Moth, rubber tree caterpillar
Lymire edwardsii is a moth in the family Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae) described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. The species is known for its caterpillars, which feed on Ficus species and frequently cause extensive injury to these trees, earning the common name 'rubber tree caterpillar.' Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm with bluish-gray wings and are active year-round in southern Florida.