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South Wales, United Kingdom Gb

I am having a caterpillar problem ... They have shredded my lungwort and what's worse they are eating the new shoots of delphiniums before they even have a chance ... I would like not to kill them and have been trying to pick them when I see them but a lot of the time I can only see the damage and the excreta ... but no caterpillars. Is there a specific time of day/night when I should look for them?




Answers

 

Caterpillars, especially when tiny, have a habit of hiding away inside the leaves which often are made to curl up around them. Try using a hand lens. Are you SURE this is only caterpillar damage as slugs and snails are particularly fond of both, especially delphiniums.
However, with both lungwort (pulmonaria) and delphiniums, they are perennial so even if they lost all their foliage at this time of year, they will still come back from the roots next spring. They have had plenty of time to put on growth and new 'energy' into their roots by mid September. So concentrate your efforts into protecting them then, especially from slugs.

11 Sep, 2012

 

Thanks for your answer Bertiefox. I think I have controlled the slug problem (Going out picking them every night and some pellets - not very organic I know but needs must!) I have seen the caterpillars on the Delphiniums and picked them up on several occasions - as you say at times curled up in the new leaves. The holes in the leaves are small and in the middle of the leaves not starting from the edges (which is what I think happens with slugs). I am not 100% sure about the pulmonaria - it may be slugs or snails but today I've seen brown ball-shaped tiny droppings on some of the leaves which I think come from caterpillars.

Thanks :)

11 Sep, 2012

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