Pest Watch – Spot the Caterpillars

Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by Tracey in Pests

I would have thought all the caterpillars would have gone by now off into hibernation for winter but no, the tiny green and brown caterpillars on my Plot 1 have been tucking into their last supper of my winter seedlings of Japanese kale, mustard greens and for afters a few bites of my pointed spring cabbage leaves.

See if you can spot the little blighters.

: Brown Caterpillar on Cabbage

: Caterpillar 2

: Caterpillars Breakfast

: Caterpillars Nap

: A spot of lunch

: A mid afternoon snack

5 Ways to Remove Caterpillars from your Vegetable Plot

The easiest way is to squish them with your fingers in gloves.
If they have decimated your seedlings, leaving no leaves, it might be worth pulling out the plants from the soil,
Cover the plot with mesh or fleece or barrier protection like a cloche.
Check your plants often, look underneath the leaves and shake the plants gently to unhinge the caterpillars so you can remove them.
For big populations of caterpillars attacking brassicas, there is an organic solution in the form of nematodes from Nemasys called Caterpillar Killer which can be applied mixed with water in a spray bottle directly onto the caterpillars between July and September.

Unfortunately my seedlings have been decimated and they will no longer survive, so I pulled them out and planted an extra row of overwintering onions instead.

Other Posts you may be interested in: