Caterpillars
Echinacea. Caterpillars in the flower heads
Isabel Wakefield
899 0
My white swan Echinacea are currently plagued with small greenish caterpillars that are living in the flower heads. They spin threads and pull the petals in to cover themselves whilst they eat little furrows across the flower head. When they are exposed and irritated they wriggle furiously and drop off to the ground. Any idea what they are and how to combat them?
Posted: Saturday 8th of August 2015 08:10 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 03:48 PM
Re: Caterpillars
Deirdre
985 0
This always tears me in two. I really love wildlife and that's why I started my garden but now and again the 'prim and proper gardener' in me wants to have perfect plants with no holes! but I think balance is key, birds will make sure of this beside I think a little damage is okay.
Most butterflies feed on nectar from many flowers but their caterpillars will only feed on very specific food plants and won't eat anything else. And they have declined sharply in the past few years. What I've done is I've researched caterpillar 'food plants' such as nettles and ivy and created an area away from the main flower garden in a sunny corner where they can munch to their hearts content without destroying the effect of the rest of the garden.
Very good point made above 'no caterpillars no butterflies". Maybe relocating them could work :-)
Most butterflies feed on nectar from many flowers but their caterpillars will only feed on very specific food plants and won't eat anything else. And they have declined sharply in the past few years. What I've done is I've researched caterpillar 'food plants' such as nettles and ivy and created an area away from the main flower garden in a sunny corner where they can munch to their hearts content without destroying the effect of the rest of the garden.
Very good point made above 'no caterpillars no butterflies". Maybe relocating them could work :-)
Posted: Saturday 2nd of August 2014 07:17 PM
Re: Re: Caterpillars
Shoot User
985 0
Thanks for this.
I suppose I'm just thinking if I destroy the caterpillars then there will be no butterflies!?
They certainly do love my nasturtiums, sadly.
I suppose I'm just thinking if I destroy the caterpillars then there will be no butterflies!?
They certainly do love my nasturtiums, sadly.
Posted: Friday 1st of August 2014 12:36 PM
Re: Caterpillars
Louise Lomax
985 1
The main problem is with the small white butterfly - others (eg small tortoiseshell) live on plants like nettles. Small whites like brassicas and nasturtiums. I plant nasturtiums in the veg plot so that the small whites lay their eggs on them rather than my cabbages. I net all my brassicas - not just against butterflies, but also pidgeons usually demolish them in the winter. Would rather have the pleasure of butterflies in the garden than plants without holes and no butterflies.
Posted: Friday 1st of August 2014 11:37 AM
Re: Caterpillars
Carol
985 1
Depends whether the attractive plants are food for the adult butterfly (providing nectar) or food for the developing caterpillar (usually leaves)! I don't know of caterpillars that eat ivy or buddleia or lavendar - but the butterflies go for the nectar in the flowers. I don't know what feeds adult cabbage white butterflies, but I know the caterpillars love all brassicas and nasturtiums.
Posted: Friday 1st of August 2014 11:15 AM
Caterpillars
Shoot User
985 3
So what are you supposed to do about them? I'm torn between saving my plants and protecting wildlife... If you have plants to attract butterflies, doesn't it follow that you will have caterpillars?!
Posted: Friday 1st of August 2014 09:41 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 05:38 PM
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1626 0
Hi having read the post of holes in leaves i have a serious problem in which all my foliage on my climbers (honeysuckle and jasmine) along with my cherry and dwarf plum patio plants and i just cannot find anything on the leaves. i have included some pics and would appreciate any help you may give.
thank you
chad
thank you
chad
Posted: Tuesday 27th of August 2013 05:13 PM
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802 0
Could anyone help identify these caterpillars found on one of our cob nut trees?
Posted: Sunday 28th of July 2013 05:05 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 05:49 PM
Re: Re: R. Everred
Nicola
1626 0
Hi Katie - I can see you are having problems adding images. Click the icon with the curved arrow called reply to reply to one of these forum posts. A box will open allowing you to type in a message. Just under that there are three browse buttons. Click the first one to find the file of your image saved onto your computer. The images need to be in .jpeg format to work. Once you have found the image files you want to add (we allow up to 3 per forum post) click the green submit button. I hope that helps! Thanks Nicola
Posted: Sunday 15th of May 2011 07:38 AM
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1626 0
I hope you can view the leaves
Posted: Saturday 14th of May 2011 03:07 PM
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1171 0
Hi Kathy,
Yes here is a photo sadly not close up.Its about 1.5 to 2inches long a grey green in colour with a thin brownish stripe running down either side of its body with short dumpy legs. Its similar to a cut worm it curls up and inches when it walks
Yes here is a photo sadly not close up.Its about 1.5 to 2inches long a grey green in colour with a thin brownish stripe running down either side of its body with short dumpy legs. Its similar to a cut worm it curls up and inches when it walks
Posted: Friday 13th of May 2011 06:41 AM Last reply: Friday 13th of May 2011 06:42 AM
Re: Infestation
Kathy N
1171 1
Hi, Adrian,
Can you describe the caterpillar?
Kathy C
Can you describe the caterpillar?
Kathy C
Posted: Thursday 12th of May 2011 10:17 PM
Re: Re: Infestation
Shoot User
1171 0
Hi Nicola thanks for your reply.I did take a leaf to My garden center they recomended Provado Ultimate Bug Killer but it didnt get rid of them.I have treated them with the bacteria Bacillus and overnight I havnt seen any damage too any leaves so heres hoping.I hold a safe use of pesticide and application certificate for spraying horticultural pesticides etc so can use all legal chemicals and yes it is always changing the legislation and banning of chemicals alot of banned products were very good.I need to properly identify this caterpillar I think it is a moth as the larvae appeared September time , im wondering if it came in with new plants or with disturbing the soil? .. .
Posted: Thursday 12th of May 2011 02:28 PM
Re: Infestation
Nicola
1171 1
Hi Adrian, when it comes to chemical control of pests the list of allowed chemicals is changing all the time. I suggest that you visit your local garden centre to find out what the latest and best solution is. Take your leaf along with you. They will have the most up-to-date information as regulations about permitted chemicals change frequently.
Posted: Thursday 12th of May 2011 08:25 AM
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1171 2
In autumn of 2010 I planted lots of polyanthus plants and Pansies everyone was eaten by caterpillars.Big cuts and holes appeared in the leaves eventually only the ribs were left.I have planted all My summer bedding and there are still caterpillars they have overwintered in the hanging baskets and are now starting too eat Bgonia and Pelargonium leaves , I treated them today with BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS THURICIDE what are the caterpillars will this Bacteria get rid of them?
Posted: Wednesday 11th of May 2011 07:21 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 04:18 PM
Re: R. Everred
Kathy N
1626 0
Hi, Karen,
Oops, the photos didn't upload. Are the holes along the margins and look somewhat knotched or scattered throughout the entire leaf? Primiarly along the edges is most likely vine weevil. Caterpillars cause holes scattered all over the leaf. Rhodos are susceptible to both. If caterpillars you can give a thorough inspection and pick them off. If it is vine weevil, it is more serious as you have to kill the larvae in the soil. Is your plant in the ground or in a container?
Kathy C
Oops, the photos didn't upload. Are the holes along the margins and look somewhat knotched or scattered throughout the entire leaf? Primiarly along the edges is most likely vine weevil. Caterpillars cause holes scattered all over the leaf. Rhodos are susceptible to both. If caterpillars you can give a thorough inspection and pick them off. If it is vine weevil, it is more serious as you have to kill the larvae in the soil. Is your plant in the ground or in a container?
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 9th of May 2011 10:41 PM
Re: Re: R. Everred
Shoot User
1626 0
Hope this photo is sufficient
Posted: Monday 9th of May 2011 04:26 PM
Re: Re: R. Everred
Shoot User
1626 0
I hope you are able to view one of the attached.
Thanks
Thanks
Posted: Monday 9th of May 2011 04:22 PM
Re: R. Everred
Nicola
1626 3
Hi Karen can you take and add a photo? Click reply to yourself or me and add up to 3 images:) Nicola
Posted: Sunday 8th of May 2011 04:56 PM
R. Everred
Shoot User
1626 4
Foliage is being eaten - holes in leaves. Can't see anything on the leaf except hole. What might it be? Cure?
Posted: Sunday 8th of May 2011 04:31 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 05:36 PM