Ants are eating my caterpillars!!!
Caitlin Kempski
7 years ago
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Jacob Berg
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Bugs Eating my Rue ( not caterpillars)
Comments (5)Hmm...I have plenty of rue growing in my yard and only the Black Swallowtails use it. Can't think of any bug that would be eating it. Are you sure they're not first instar caterpillars? Perhaps you can get a photo to post that would help with the ID. I know those little critters are hard to see so hopefully there's a macro setting on the camera? If you're sure they're not cats then you can add some dish soap or detergent to a spray bottle of water and squirt it on your plants. Wait a few minutes then wash it off with a sprayer hose. If the bugs don't die then repeat it for a few more days making sure to wash the plants off real good. If you have caterpillars on it as well as the bugs then take some cuttings and set the caterpillars on them in the mean time. ~ Cat...See MoreAnts, Ants, Ants-eating my cats & eggs?
Comments (7)Thanks to all responses. I am brand new on the Butterfly Garden Forum, so please bear with me while I learn the system. Thanks to runmead & christie for the Terro suggestion. I will look for it. Also like the Gain detergent idea from organic kitten--sounds like it's worth a try also. Elisabeth: Great input and good info on the Senna. I occasionally do raise some of the eggs to chrysalis/butterflies. I make butterfly garden "hatching jars" for the children at my grandson's school. WE do butterfly garden walks (my garden) during the spring. My sennas and casias are also covered with eggs & cats. I really need to prune, in prep. for the storms heading our way, but can't do it while there are so many new babies. Rhizo 1: My problem ants are mostly very tiny or little larger black ones. No fire ants on my host plants. Siam: My best nectar plants are the fire bush, jathropa, cosmos (re-seeds itself every year and can reach a height of 8+ feet during the summer), native floss flower (ageratum?)-- please excuse my lack of proper names--spanish needle, & pentas. Host plants: scarlet milkweek, several varities of the passion vine--one a native that comes up by itself in my garden, key lime & calamondin, cassias & sennas. I also plant parsley, dill & rue. Oh yes, I have a large Dutchman's Pipe that the Gold rimmed swollowtail loves. Maybe some spider problems on this. During our winter/spring growing season I plant nasturshims and have collards in my vegetable garden. I would be interested in what you grow and what butterflies we might have in common. Thanks again to all responses....See MoreDamn caterpillars eating my new grafts!!
Comments (2)I have no ideas on environmentally nuking them except maybe BTK but then the caterpillars have to ingest it to die, meaning they have to eat the leaves. I am expecting a mass invasion of the tent caterpillar this year, unless the wind blew all the moths in a different direction when they hatched :) I have stocked up on a large roll of very light frost cloth and am going to sew long tubes, slip them over the grafts and tie wrap each end. They won't be on long enough to girdle the tree. I refuse to let the evil little worms kill my efforts....See MoreThis caterpillar(?) is eating my sage...what is it?
Comments (1)It's one of the many, many Geometrids, a moth caterpillar. Many are general feeders, opportunistic....See MoreJacob Berg
7 years agoTodd (Atlanta, Ga. 7b/8a)
7 years agocoronadoca1
7 years agodenali2007
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years agocoronadoca1
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years agocoronadoca1
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7 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
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7 years agoCaitlin Kempski
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoJen
2 years agoleticia salazar
2 years ago
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