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Post by peony on May 4, 2011 20:09:04 GMT
I found this caterpillar on one of my delphiniums today, it had made a sort of web around the top shoot and it was inside and has been eating the shoot. Have any of you had problems like this? I haven't found any other shoots damaged in this way.  |
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Post by Lou78W on May 4, 2011 20:38:06 GMT
The little blighter  ......must have a look at mine tomorrow.....bonny little beast though  .....Has it completely destroyed the growing shoot? |
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Post by Geranium on May 4, 2011 20:50:56 GMT
What a pain! I haven't had that before, although something has been at my lupins...  |
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Post by Cherry on May 4, 2011 21:08:27 GMT
The problem you have here is the larvae of Delphinium Moth eating your plants. These are the caterpillars of the moth Polychrysia moneta which has one generation a year and overwinters as young larvae in the old plant stems.
During the spring, leaves at the shoot tips of the delphinium and monkshood are spun together with silk threads by small green caterpillars, heavily marked with black spots. Later the caterpillars feed openly on the expanded foliage.
They change colour to greenish white by the time they pupate, in a pale yellow cocoon spun on the underside of leaves during late spring and early summer. The mature caterpillars are up to 40mm long, but often go unnoticed as they stay on the underside of the leaf and are only active at night.
The most effective control for a small infestation is to keep an eye on the plants and remove any caterpillars that you see by hand. For heavy infestationss spray with bifenthrin or Provado ultimate bug killer.
Peony I know about this because this problem has been found in Norfolk and I grow a lot of Aconitums, both spring and autumn varieties as well as a few delphiniums, so I have been keeping watch for it.
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Post by merlin on May 5, 2011 6:31:47 GMT
A very definitive reply Cherry, you know your caterpillars, I too will watch out for them. I suppose it's another example of how important it is to have titboxes in the garden.
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Post by peony on May 5, 2011 10:32:33 GMT
Thank you for your detailed reply Cherry  So far the damage on the delphiniums seems to be just the one shoot, but I shall check my monkshood as well, and if I find any more I'll give them a spray of Provado. |
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Post by Cherry on May 5, 2011 11:26:44 GMT
Peony it was such an excellent photo there was no doubt. I have been looking out for this, but thank goodness we can spray against it.
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Post by peony on May 5, 2011 14:44:18 GMT
Peony it was such an excellent photo there was no doubt. I have been looking out for this, but thank goodness we can spray against it. I'm so pleased you recognised what it was Cherry. I usually cut back all the old stems in late autumn, but these particular delphiniums somehow got missed (its a bit of a jungle at the back of this border :  , but I'll make sure I do it this year and then hopefully I won't get the problem next year. |
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Post by sweetpea on May 5, 2011 16:09:44 GMT
Usually the biggest pest of delphiniums are the slugs. They seem to like them as much as Hostas.
I must admit I dont mind a few leaves being eaten by caterpillars. Its a small price to pay for the adults be they moth or butterfly.
I draw the line at Cabbage white caterpillars though but then prevention is better than cure.
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Post by peony on May 5, 2011 17:56:46 GMT
Usually the biggest pest of delphiniums are the slugs. They seem to like them as much as Hostas. I must admit I dont mind a few leaves being eaten by caterpillars. Its a small price to pay for the adults be they moth or butterfly. I draw the line at Cabbage white caterpillars though but then prevention is better than cure. Like you SP, I wouldn't mind if it was just a few leaves but this caterpillar was munching one of the flowering shoots  |
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Post by merlin on May 5, 2011 20:57:41 GMT
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Post by seaburn on May 6, 2011 18:26:08 GMT
yes I have found this with aconitum too for the first time this year. squished now. |
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Post by greengirl on May 9, 2011 13:58:46 GMT
Have you though of using slug shields. They are a neat innovation on copper solution and I love them. Very long lasting and non toxic.
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Post by Geranium on May 9, 2011 14:00:56 GMT
Hallo Greengirl - I see that's your first post! Welcome to GF. ;D
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Post by steve on May 9, 2011 15:38:59 GMT
Welcome to the forums Greengirl |
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......must have a look at mine tomorrow.....bonny little beast though 
.....Has it completely destroyed the growing shoot?
So far the damage on the delphiniums seems to be just the one shoot, but I shall check my monkshood as well, and if I find any more I'll give them a spray of Provado.
, but I'll make sure I do it this year and then hopefully I won't get the problem next year.
