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lily2

By Lily2

Berkshire, United Kingdom Gb

Please can someone identify these caterpillers and how do I deal with them?



P1060262_correction

Answers

 

What plant were they on, Lily?

6 Sep, 2010

 

Hi Bamboo, they're on Nasturtiums

6 Sep, 2010

 

Oh, well that's no help then, lol! I suspect they're some kind of moth, but have had no luck finding them yet.

6 Sep, 2010

 

I haven't found these anywhere, but whatever they are, they're not sawfly larvae, if that's any comfort. Best guess is butterfly or moth.

6 Sep, 2010

 

Many thanks for looking M, Any idea how to deal with them? I have a childhood memory of my Mum kneeling (with hair in those metal curlers) picking something like this off gooseberry bushes by hand and putting them in a bucket of water. Don't fancy doing that and anyway......... I don't have any of those curlers!! LOL

6 Sep, 2010

 

I remember those curlers in my ma's hair too, and those long metal ones with teeth. How about picking them off with rubber gloves on?

6 Sep, 2010

 

Funny you should say that Lily, I had the same problem, found loads of them last weekend on my roses, the'yre not there now nor are the leaves ! boom boom !

6 Sep, 2010

 

Nearest I can see Lily is Admiral caterpillar. I had caterpillaritis, never realised there were so many of them. It's a wonder there are any plants left.

6 Sep, 2010

 

I remember those caterpillars on nasturtiums from childhood. Don't know what they are but we used to pick them off by hand. There innards are green & smelly and stain your fingers ;-)

6 Sep, 2010

 

I always assumed that they were cabbage whites as they love all the brassicas!
They also love my cleomes and my sadly departed canary creeper!

6 Sep, 2010

 

they are cabbage white butterfly caterpillars. they eat nasturiums and any members of the brassicas including stocks.

6 Sep, 2010

 

Many thanks to all for your answers. it looks like I shall just have to don the Marigolds tomorrow and pick them all off. Green and smelly doesn't sound too inviting Bulbaholic so thanks for the warning! Fortunately there don't seem to be too many unless they multiply overnight.

6 Sep, 2010

 

Cabbage white(large white actually). Hand pick. Phil J

6 Sep, 2010

 

Pieris brassicae is the latin name for this particular species. if you have a fish pond the fish will enjoy them for a change.

6 Sep, 2010

How do I say thanks?

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