Caterpillars---Arrrgh!

Caterpillars---Arrrgh!
by Lora, our Staff Training Manager


Caterpillars usually show up in the warmer part of the growing season, but we're still finding them in October.

Use Harvest Guard Row Cover to protect baby veggies from caterpillar damage. This light-weight cover lets in the sun but prevents the Cabbage Looper moths from laying their eggs on cabbages, broccoli, etc.

You can apply Caterpillar Spray (Bt) to take care of all those budworms on geraniums, petunias, nicotiana, snapdragons or any cutworm that have crawled up into the foliage.

I’m finding cutworms (who do similar damage) in my arctotis now and I have a feeling that’s why the lovely tall purple verbascum plant shriveled up at the base. You can also apply Sluggo Plus (with Spinosad) to take care of the cutworms in the soil, chewing on heuchera roots or mowing down baby veggies at night. Beneficial nematodes will also attack and destroy cutworms in the soil.

Cutworms generally feed at night by clipping off seedling stems and young plants near or just below the soil surface.

Cutworms are a dull brown or gray and will curl up into a “C” shape when disturbed or at rest.

They will pass the winter in the soil or under garden debris as young larvae. Gardens covered in grass (sod) or weeds the previous season are especially attractive to cutworms.