Re: Maybe not slugs!!!!
- Subject: Re: Maybe not slugs!!!!
- From: j*
- Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 17:15:37 -0400
Perhaps you should consider identifying the caterpillars before you
decide that extermination is the action of choice. It is not at all
unlikely they may be butterfly larvae. Bt would be the chemical of
choice for killing most caterpillar-ish creatures. The problem is it has
no way of distinguishing between gypsy moth caterpillars and
pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae so any such insect will be killed.
Here is an excellent website for caterpillar identification. If it is too
much to wade through, if you can describe the critter in thorough
detail, I or someone else on the list, may be able to identify it for you.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/cateast/families.htm
Although you don't give geographic location in your post, I'm
assuming the "maine" in your email address means you are in the
northeastern states, hence the reference above. If anyone wants to
refer to the same information for other areas of the country simply
back up to the main page.
For almost any pest identification, identifying the genera and/or
family of plant under attack is critical to accurate identification of the
insect (virus, bacteria, fungus, etc.) because most pests are plant-
specific.
Determining the extent of damage that is occurring is also helpful in
arriving at a decision about whether to spray or not. Making a
considered decision about spraying should be weighed as any other
decision one makes: is the plant going to die or is it just unsightly?
what are the pluses and minuses of spraying vs. not spraying? what
are the consequences of each decision? and so on.
regards,
jaime knoble
> Thanks to all for the information about getting slugs out of the
> garden..................unfortunately, I think I blamed the wrong guy.
> I seem to have many more "furry" black caterpillas that are eating my
> plants. I think I have chalked up about three slugs and over 20
> caterpillas!.......BUG-BE-GONE? Does anyone know what works best?
>
> Thanks
>
> Gayle
>
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http://www.jaimek.com
slightly updated 6/6/01
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