The genista broom moth, Uresiphita reversalis, is also called the genista caterpillar and sophora worm. The moths are light to medium brown with a dark spot on each top wing. The hindwings are yellow or orange with some brownish-gray shading toward the edges. Females lay eggs in batches of up to about 70. The tiny, newly hatched caterpillars are green and blend in on the foliage. Larger caterpillars are brownish-green with raised black spots and bright yellow patches on each segment. Each black spot has a white dot at tip that sports sparse, long white hairs. The head is black with white dots as well. It overwinters in cocoons on or near the base of its host plants and the moths emerge the following year to mate and lay eggs from which hatch the tiny, hairy caterpillars that soon grown into larger hairy caterpillars. They can become abundant enough to cause extensive defoliation. Genista broom moths have four to five generations per year in North Carolina and the caterpillars are usually most abundant in late summer or early fall.

Genista moths usually have orange or yellow hind wings.

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Genista moths usually have orange or yellow hind wings.

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Genista caterpillars are about an inch long.

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Genista caterpillars are about an inch long.

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Genista caterpillars usually feed gregariously.

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Genista caterpillars usually feed gregariously.

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Genista caterpillars feed on acacia, brooms (Genista spp.), Scotch broom, Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora), blue wild indigo or false indigo (Baptisia australis), and lupine. It has also been reported from crapemyrtle and honeysuckle as well as "other pea family shrubs." Genista caterpillars ingest and store alkaloids from their host plants, which make the worms bitter or even toxic to mammals and birds and some insect predators (so don't eat them!).

Because they feed in groups, genista caterpillars can do a lot of damage.

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Because they feed in groups, genista caterpillars can do a lot of damage.

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Genista caterpillars are probably not resistant to insecticides. However, when the worms are fully grown, they may be somewhat resistant to pesticides because they are no longer feeding and are getting ready to spin their cocoons. Younger caterpillars are generally more susceptible to pesticides including insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides, and neem seed extract insecticides. For larger caterpillars, it might be better to use a pyrethroid insecticide such as permethrin, bifenthrin, and lambda cyhalothrin because pyrethroids are generally very toxic to caterpillars and they have long-lasting residues. When used as directed, pyrethroids are very toxic to insects but are not particularly hazardous to humans and pets (other than fish—avoid using pyrethroids around pools, ponds, and streams). It would be well to watch for these caterpillars next year as some of them may survive the winter away from the area being sprayed. The cocoons will at least partially protect the caterpillars or pupae inside. These insecticides are available in the garden sections of big box stores, nurseries, and other plant centers

• Aposematism of Uresiphita reversalis Larvae (Pyralidae). Bernays, E. A. and C. B. Montllor. 1989. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 43 (4): 261-273.
• Genista Caterpillar on Baptisia. Roos, D. 2012. Growing Small Farms, NC State Extension.
• Genista Caterpillar on Texas Mountain Laurel. Drees, B. M. and C. Bogran. 2017. Landscape IPM, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
• Species Uresiphita reversalis - Genista Broom Moth - Hodges #4992. Roberts, J. D. 2007. BugGuide. Identification, Images, & Information For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin For the United States & Canada.
• NC State Extension Plant Pathology Publications
• NC State Horticultural Science Publications
• North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual

For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension center.

This factsheet has not been peer reviewed.