Caterpillar Problem
Keith Butler2
Posts: 53
Hi,
Last year I started getting leaf problems and this year it is back, I find the leaves of a lot of the plants curl over and stick together and when I open the leaf out there is a caterpillar inside, the one in the picture is off a Red Ruben that I have just opened the leaf out. Can anyone tell me what it is and how to get rid of them?
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Posts
Hi Keith...I have the exact same problem, my Skimmias and Honeysuckles are covered in them, I think they are one of the moth caterpillars, but like you would love to know for sure.
Just had a look at one of my old posts, where I asked the same question, it appears to be the caterpillar of the Light-brown Apple Moth.
yes without pesticide, and if you are saying just keep picking them off that is one extra job I don't need, will they eventually go because I can see eventually a leafless garden? will they be beneficial to my garden or just a nuisance?
Pick and squash. Same problem with my Lupins this year, I thought it was slugs but no. My moth caterpillars appeared at night
How extensive is the damage? Most established plants will tolerate quite a lot of leaf damage. Caterpillars & adult moths will also provide food for other wildlife such as birds & bats.
I have a blank canvas with lots of plants in pots ready to go in and the damage if it were on mature plants would be minimal but all my plants are small ready to go in the ground so it is a lot of damage to me, last year the two Bays and the Honeysuckle I have I was constantly picking leafs of and squashing the caterpillars and they seem to move pretty quick when disturbed, this year they are on the Red Rubin, and the two Bays are looking a bit sad. Should I keep picking them off and squashing them, I had my Grandson on Caterpillar squashing duty today