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Anyone else got caterpillar problems?

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  • Anyone else got caterpillar problems?

    Recently I seem to be finding caterpillars or evidence of caterpillars all around my garden. These are not cabbage whites and not the dot moth caterpillars I had earlier in the year. Some are brown, and some are bright green with a faint yellow stripe down each side (I think these may be silver Y moth or some similar moth), both sorts about an inch to an inch and a half long.

    Both sorts seem to be attracted to my new black plastic wormery and I have found 2 of each climbing it in the last couple of days. I don't mind them on the wormery, but something (something large by the look of the mouse dropping sized caterpillar poo) is eating my chard. I've poked around, lifted leaves and had a really good look, and I can't find anything bigger than a 1/8th inch long slug, which is smaller than the lumps of poo on the leaves so can't be responsible. The chard is next to (touching) broccoli leaves, which are relatively uneaten.

    Then today when I was rearranging my veggiemesh cage, I found 2 of the green ones inside the cage, eating the carrot foliage. Another pot of carrots under a single veggiemesh net has been almost defoliated by something.

    How have they got into the veggiemesh? I can cope with cabbage whites, but houdini caterpillars and invisible chard munchers are a bit much at this time of year!
    A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

  • #2
    The green ones with yellow stripe could easily be Silver Y.

    I haven't seen these moths in huge numbers this year, but I'm a good many miles away from you so that doesn't mean anything.
    My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
    Chrysanthemum notes page here.

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    • #3
      I haven't seen any adults. Last year my buddleia bush was covered in them but not a single one this year.
      A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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      • #4
        I have found the odd ones also,not under netting,also a very strange thing on the underside of a pepper leaf,aprox half in long,thin pale with stripy look,will have to google the moth thing,
        sigpicAnother nutter ,wife,mother, nan and nanan,love my growing places,seed collection and sharing,also one of these

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        • #5
          Oh!
          I found three bright green caterpillars on my chard yesterday! (it isn't netted yet)
          I'm not sure if they had stripes....pretty sure they were just vivid green....smooth though, happy and fat looking.
          We've had a few hard frosts here already so I was surprised to see them.
          and they weren't very well camoflaged either, verdent green bodies on bright red chard? How were they not bird food?
          http://goneplotterin.blogspot.co.uk/

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Penellype View Post
            I haven't seen any adults. Last year my buddleia bush was covered in them but not a single one this year.
            Going off topic slightly - I know that Buddleia is great for attracting butterflies, however is it any good to be used as a 'decoy' for caterpillars or would they still feed on our edible leaves.

            I know the plants are vigorous growers but I have the room at my plot. However I don't want to face the wrath from neighbouring plot-holders for attracting even more butterflies to our area.
            .......because you're thinking of putting the kettle on and making a pot of tea perhaps, you old weirdo. (Veggie Chicken - 25/01/18)

            My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnC..._as=subscriber

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            • #7
              Originally posted by KevinM67 View Post
              Going off topic slightly - I know that Buddleia is great for attracting butterflies, however is it any good to be used as a 'decoy' for caterpillars or would they still feed on our edible leaves.
              I'm afraid the Buddleia is just a feeding station for adult butterflies. Each type of butterfly will seek out their own favorite plants to lay their eggs on; I can't think of any that wants its caterpillars to feed on Buddleia.
              My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
              Chrysanthemum notes page here.

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              • #8
                Cheers Martin H,

                Scrap that idea then.
                .......because you're thinking of putting the kettle on and making a pot of tea perhaps, you old weirdo. (Veggie Chicken - 25/01/18)

                My Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnC..._as=subscriber

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