Caterpillars
Symptoms
Leaves are stripped.
Cause
Caterpillars, the larval stage of moths and butterflies.
Harm
Young leaves can be eaten away and more mature plants are left unsightly.
The main problems caterpillars in the ornamental garden are all
moths and include Angle shades, Brown tail, Buff tip, Carnation
tortrix, Hawthorn webber, Lackey, Leopard, Goat, Silver Y, Small
ermine, Vapourer and winter moths.
Treatment
Organic - leave them for the birds or pick off caterpillars by hand
as soon as you see them.
Chemical - use a contact insecticide such as Bug ClearConcentrate
if you see them.
Biological - control with the naturally occurring bacterium Bacillus
thuriengiensis. Once the caterpillar has eaten the bacteria, which
is applied as a spray on to leaves, it Get
pest control products from Crocus - The leading online garden centre
ps feeding within hours and will die a few days later.
Source:
Crocus
- The leading online garden centre
