I use a lot of manure but the stuff never comes with a certificate of purity. Because of some hefty paranoia on my part I try to set the stuff aside to age gracefully into dowager-hood. I have a bin for cold composting, but if there's room it sits in a bed. So, the first year it gets to sit and grow flowers or such. Lots of field marigolds; crazy about those. Because of a suggestion I read here, I have one un-aged bed growing okra (and marigolds), and since nobody actually eats okra, it's really just a cover crop. Next year the two flower beds that are sitting sort of fallow will get food in them. Marigolds too since they're unstoppable self seeders. I figure that any trace pathogens and perhaps herbicides will be minimized by then. Until that time, I think of the beds as septic, as in germy and dangerous to health. I come from deep in the chemical culture. I dipped my dogs in sevin, sprayed the yards for ticks with malathion, fogged my house while still inside it, and hoarded some of the last bags of DDT in Virginia. I've driven perhaps 2 million miles in my life, most of which was inhaling Carbon Monoxide loaded with tetra-ethyl lead. I used to play with mercury in my hands and spit it through a pea shooter. I've inhaled herbicides that our government said were harmless. I believed in the slogan of better living through chemistry. I don't believe those god damned bastards any more. I just had to draw a line and stick to it. Had to start being careful. In the last year I've used two chemicals. Chalk that up to luck. One was mosquito dunks as a source of BT for house plants that got a bit loaded with gnats. The other was Epsom salts. Knock on wood. Knock on wood again. Everything else came from stable manure, plant waste, and household garbage. Again, luck, and a willingness to let stuff get eaten by critters. Sorry. I'll shut up now. Goodbye.

Another member identified this for you as "Sophora Worm or Genista Worm, Uresiphita reversalis." Hope that helps. Brenda

@tj: Oh, got it! I had to do this for my pea plants just a few days ago: http://steveklett.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-on.html With some plants the barriers would be easy, others that have leaves contacting the soil would be tough. I had thought about buying some of the clear tube material used to slip over a florescent tube, then cut into short lengths that would allow light still. I think it will be slippery enough to prevent the little critters from climbing up. Here is the product I'm referring to: Anyway, thanks for the clarification. -Steve

Siam, I've been looking for it on the internet and can't find it. The shape of the body, with the tapered end, makes me think it's some type of Heterocampa moth, but, the spikes and the coloration make me think it might be some type of Heliconian or longwing butterfly caterpillar. Any chance the weed might be a passionvine? I don't have any books about caterpillars, moths, or butterflies from the West Indies, so I'm going to see if I can find one to order. I have a book case full of nature books, but there's still room for a few more books! Sherry