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Friday - November 08, 2013
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pests, Shrubs
Title: Something damages leaves on Tecoma stans from Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Help! Something is chomping my Esperanzas. I thought it was deer but they don't seem to be eating other yellow bells in my neighborhood. I think it's an insect. Something is completely stripping the branches, leaves and blooms. Some of the branches seem to be turning black on the tips. I just sprayed with some mild soapy water hoping that would help. Thanks!ANSWER:
According to this article from Butterflies and Moths of North America, Tecoma stans (Yellow bells) is a larval host for Paratreae plebeja, Plebeian Sphinx Moth. From that article:
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