After slugs, caterpillars are the next most harmful pest in vegetable patches for Irish gardeners. These fury little fellows munch their way through the foliage of a range of brassica plants and turnips causing extreme damage.
In many cases an infestation of caterpillars can lead to entire rows of crops being sent to the compost bin. Probably the worst feature of a caterpillar attack is that they don’t just eat the outer and older foliage, but they tend to burrow their way right into the centre of crops destroying an entire plant within one mornings feed.
Caterpillars are the larvae stage of the adult butterfly. There are many different types of butterfly and the one that attacks brassica plants is called the white butterfly or cabbage whites. These particular butterflies find brassica to be the perfect host for their eggs and their larvae. The butterflies are most active in the growing season from late May to July and again in late August to September. This is the time when crops should be protected.
How to Get Rid of Caterpillars on Basket Grass Plant
Basket grass plants add a lovely ornamental element to gardens with their delicate weeping foliage. However these attractive plants can fall victim to voracious caterpillars that quickly defoliate the grass-like leaves. Getting rid of caterpillars on basket grass requires persistence, but there are several effective organic methods to protect your plants.
Identify the Culprit
Closely inspect leaves showing signs of feeding damage and look for caterpillars, frass (droppings), and eggs. Common caterpillar pests of basket grass include:
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Basket grass webworm: Greenish caterpillars with dark heads that spin silken webs and nests in foliage.
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Basket grass looper: Pale green inchworms that arch into loops when crawling.
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Basket grass owlet: Plump green and brown caterpillars with yellow stripes and dark bumps.
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Cutworms: Plump greysih caterpillars that snip off stems and foliage at night.
Properly identifying caterpillars allows you to tailor control methods to target the specific pest.
Remove by Hand
Handpicking caterpillars is an easy, non-toxic way to quickly reduce their numbers. Check plants frequently and crush, drop in soapy water, or relocate caterpillars to non-food plants. Wear gloves and be thorough – young caterpillars can be easily missed.
Apply Biological Insecticides
Natural insecticides derived from microorganisms target caterpillars while sparing most beneficial insects. Excellent options include:
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Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – a bacterium deadly to caterpillars when ingested
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Spinosad – made from Saccharopolyspora spinosa fungus harmful to caterpillars
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Azadirachtin – extracted from neem trees, disrupts caterpillar growth
Always follow label application directions. Reapply as needed.
Invite Predators
Encourage natural caterpillar predators like birds, lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps and flies. Plant nectar-rich flowers and create habitat to attract them. You can also purchase some predators like trichogramma wasps.
Use Physical Barriers
Floating row covers and fine netting can block moths from laying eggs on plants. This prevents caterpillars from establishing. Drape barriers directly over plants and anchor the edges with stones, boards or landscape pins.
Alter Watering Schedules
Caterpillars thrive on succulent, tender growth. Allowing plants to dry out slightly between waterings can make foliage less appealing. But don’t let plants suffer drought stress.
Repel with Strong Scented Plants
Interplant basket grass with pungent herbs like basil, sage, thyme and oregano. Their strong scents can deter moths from laying eggs nearby. Just be sure to frequently harvest herbs to keep odors robust.
Apply Horticultural Oils
Pure horticultural oils smother caterpillar eggs and larvae. Use a light 1-2% solution of oil labeled for leaf application. Spray undersides of leaves thoroughly and repeat every week to disrupt generations. Avoid spraying open flowers.
Use Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay sprays like Surround WP form a fine barrier film on plant surfaces that deters caterpillar feeding and egg laying. It washes off over time so reapply after rain. Be sure to coat leaf undersides.
Maintain Plant Health
Healthy, vigorous basket grass plants can better withstand some caterpillar damage without lasting effects. Make sure plants receive adequate sunlight, nutrients, and moisture to support recovery. Prune plants for airflow.
Employ Crop Rotation
Rotating basket grass plantings to different beds each year interrupts pest cycles. Caterpillars emerging in spring may starve without finding host plants nearby.
Practice Sanitation
Promptly remove and destroy heavily infested foliage to eliminate caterpillar food sources. Clear any dropped or decaying leaves harboring eggs and larvae.
Use Pheromone Traps
Traps baited with sex pheromones lure adult moths, preventing them from reproducing and limiting caterpillar numbers. Strategically place traps around the garden perimeter.
Benefits of Organic Caterpillar Control
Controlling basket grass caterpillars using organic methods offers many advantages:
- Preserves populations of pollinators and beneficial insects
- Avoids toxic chemical residues on edible plants
- Maintains environmental health and biodiversity
- Often less expensive than synthetic insecticides
- Satisfies organic gardening principles and requirements
With persistence, these eco-friendly techniques can keep basket grass lush and caterpillar-free. Always monitor for early signs of infestation and take prompt action at the first signs of damage before pests become established. Combining multiple organic methods provides the best protection to fully safeguard your beautiful basket grass plants.
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How to Control Caterpillars
Organic Options & Barriers
- Flour: When leaves are wet, powder with baking flour. The caterpillars will become covered in a white ‘glue’ causing them to fall off
- Sour Milk: If you spot eggs on the underside of the foliage, paint or drench in sour milk as this will kill the eggs
- Garden Netting: This will act as a barrier to the butterfly, preventing it from laying eggs on your crops. The netting needs to remain over your crops from mid May to Late September to avoid egg laying. The netting also needs to be kept up off the plant’s foliage to prevent egg laying
- Attracting birds and other mammals such as hedgehogs to your garden will also help to keep numbers down
- There are a number of chemical control options that can prevent and reduce the number of caterpillars on plants
- Cytrin garden pest killer, contains cypermethrin will control caterpillars
- The chrysanthemum extract pyrethrum will also control this pest
- Hyssop, Sage, Thyme and Mint all act to repel the butterfly and can be planted near cabbages to deter egg laying
How to Recognise Caterpillar Damage
Host plants include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, turnips, swede and sprouts. The damage is most recognisable when the entire of a leaf is eaten but the mid-rib and lateral veins are still intact, giving a skeletal look to the plant.
Another obvious way to spot caterpillar infestations is to view the pests on the plants. They are active during the day and can easily be spotted feeding on the foliage.
Their eggs can be found on the underside of leaves. So it is important to look out for this to prevent infestations developing on crops. The eggs can be white or yellow in colour and are generally clustered in bunches.
Control Catepillars In The Garden Organically And Effectively
How do I get rid of caterpillars in my garden?
Funnel the solution into a spray bottle and spritz caterpillars liberally. Don’t use this on orchids, squashes, or hairy-leafed plants. Vinegar spray: A vinegar and water solution will kill and repel most garden pests, including caterpillars. Mix two tablespoons of vinegar with 1 gallon of water, and spray wherever you’ve seen caterpillars.
What plants repel caterpillars?
Certain plants will naturally repel caterpillars and other pests . Peppermint, lavender, mugwort, and sage are some of the most potent plants that repel garden caterpillars. Therefore, incorporate these plants into or around your vegetable garden or flower bed to help deter caterpillars.
How do I prevent caterpillars from overwintering in my garden?
Many caterpillars overwinter in the soil or garden litter left behind from the previous season, so by removing all old plants for compost, and eliminating overgrown weeds to leave the soil bare, these pests are discouraged from staying throughout the cold season. 2. Use a Net
How do you kill caterpillars in a crock pot?
Puree the peppers and garlic with 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of dish soap in the blender. Pour the mixture into a quart glass jar and cap it tightly. Set it in direct sun for two days. Strain the pepper solution through a coffee filter into a spray bottle. Spray caterpillars generously.