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Is there an Entomologist on board? I found these eggs o...

Is there an Entomologist on board?

I found these eggs on my FLF this morning. If they are something beneficial I will leave them but I don’t want to invite an infestation. I’m not familiar with this mass and I’m having trouble finding an ID online.

I live in the mountains of Alabama near a grassland and river, so it could be anything.

#GregGang #OutsidePlants bugs">#bugs insects">#insects

(Patio) Twigx, Left

Fiddle Leaf Fig

8” pot with drainage

Last watered 4 days ago

1

8

1M ago

Cristina

479 XP

1M ago

@DracarysDahlia

I’m not an entomologist, but if it were me, I’d err on the side of caution and take a q-tip w/isopropyl alcohol to it. If the plant is happy and healthy I’d nix those eggs, I would want to keep the plant being healthy and not playing the guessing game before it’s too late. That’s my take on it 😊

Hera

7856 XP

1M ago

@HeraMonstera

@DracarysDahlia I can totally understand that, and there was a time I completely felt the same way. I have been surprised to learn how many more beneficial insects live around me than harmful ones. The rivers banks and grasses are a breeding ground for so many cool things.

That said, my best guess is I think these are fall web worm moths so they gotta go!

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Cristina

479 XP

1M ago

@DracarysDahlia

@HeraMonstera I agree with you as well, I love beneficial bugs, but I’ve also been burned before thinking it was beneficial and it very rapidly becomes a problem killing my plants 😫. I guess my decision is definitely rooted in trauma. 🥴

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Hera

7856 XP

1M ago

@HeraMonstera

I just came out to handle is and this guy is on top of it! Also, whatever it is hatched. 😳 I split the difference and moved the mass to the river bank before treating the plant. @DracarysDahlia

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Cristina

479 XP

1M ago

@DracarysDahlia

@HeraMonstera WHOA! That was fast! I hope Kermit got to them if they were not beneficial 😅 Also I concur with your prognosis. Better be safe

Hera

7856 XP

1M ago

@HeraMonstera

@DracarysDahlia Now that I’ve had time to look up the eggs + hatchlings I’m pretty sure they are fall army worms. I’m going back to the river nix this.