Although caterpillars are interesting creatures, as a gardener you may find their presence more frustrating than fascinating. Fortunately, there are various ways to deal with them. In order to eliminate caterpillars from your garden, you will first need to understand what type of caterpillar it is, as some need to be moved rather than killed.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Addressing Specific Types of Caterpillars
Step 1. Know that identifying the type of caterpillar will determine how to handle it
Knowing how to identify them is essential in order to treat them, as some methods of getting rid of some types of caterpillars are ineffective for others. The steps below cover some of the more common caterpillars, and illustrate what you should do to remove them from your garden.
Step 2. Face the nights
Noctules, or moths, live beneath the surface of the soil and eat the stems of seedlings at night. You can cut plastic cups or toilet paper rolls into 5cm strips and place them around the tender young plants to protect them from these pests.
Another way to discourage their presence is to use sterile soil to start growing your seedlings. This way you prevent any pests that have overwintered in your garden from eating the new and fresh seedlings
Step 3. Deal with the tomato moth
This moth basically attacks tomato plants only, and is capable of stripping them in less than a day. It is a parasite easily recognizable by the large spike on the rear end. To get rid of it, you can simply pick it up by hand. Put any caught caterpillars in a cup or jar containing soapy water, which will kill them.
- Those who do not walk in their garden barefoot can choose to squash these pests under their feet.
- Gardeners who have an aversion to both methods may instead throw any caterpillars they find in the garbage can.
Step 4. Do not kill the caterpillar of the “swallowtail” butterfly
Dill, parsley, fennel, coriander, carrot, parsnip, and foliage in general are this caterpillar's favorite food sources. Gardeners are able to recognize this creature by its white and yellow stripes, as well as its fat, bright green exterior. It would be a good thing to take these caterpillars and relocate them to a corner where the wild carrot is located or to another location away from the garden.
Planting extra dill, parsley, and fennel to feed the butterflies is another way to make sure they are growing enough for both you and the caterpillars
Step 5. Protect the plants from the cabbage butterfly caterpillar
Covering the plants with translucent fabric or using polypropylene covers are both good ways to protect your brassicas from the invasion of cabbage butterflies and other pests that are caterpillars in the initial phase of their life.
- You can buy ready-made covers at garden centers, but you can build your own. All you have to do is insert poles into the ground and cover them with a perforated plastic or cloth fabric. These materials allow the sun and air to enter, but block most insects.
- It is a good idea to keep the sheets grounded by using bricks, wood planks, or other sufficiently heavy material.
Step 6. Check your plants often, if you notice any eggs
Rake and remove any debris and fallen leaves around the plants each fall. This helps keep the caterpillar population in check. Check the leaves throughout the growing season of the plant to monitor for the presence of eggs, regardless of what type of caterpillar it may be. Be sure to carefully inspect both the top and bottom of the leaves.
When you find the eggs, simply mash them or cut the leaf and throw it in the trash
Method 2 of 2: Fighting Caterpillars with Birds and Grasses
Step 1. Encourage the birds to spend time in your yard
An effective way to avoid caterpillars is to encourage birds to nest on your property. While this is not an ideal solution for gardeners who want to keep birds away from fruit plants, it is certainly effective for those who have plants that do not stimulate the bird's palate. To attract birds to your garden:
- Install a bird feeder by applying a cone around it to prevent hungry squirrels from entering, and a tray with water to encourage the birds to get closer.
- Ducks and chickens also like caterpillars, and if you have the space, you could put these animals in your yard, both to reduce the insect population and for their tasty eggs.
Step 2. Hide the plants using very strong scented herbs
Putting some mugwort, sage, thyme, rosemary and / or peppermint plants around the affected areas can be a solution to your caterpillar problems. These strongly aromatic herbs help mask the favorite foods of these creatures, so that they move elsewhere.
Practicing associated crops or putting several plants together in one area is another way to confuse predatory insects
Step 3. Apply organic regulators to rid your garden of caterpillars
There are several organic insecticides that can be used to get rid of these pests. Bacillus thuringiensis, or BT, is an excellent choice for keeping caterpillars away from your property. However, this substance is not always easily found. To use the BT:
- The "Kurstaki" variety kills most caterpillar species. Mix the product according to the instructions on the package and spray the plants thoroughly, covering the top and bottom of the leaves and stems. You can spray it on flowers and ornamental plants every 3-5 days, until the caterpillars disappear.
- If you can't find BT you can look for Neem-based spray products. These sprays should only be used as a last resort, as they can also kill beneficial insects along with caterpillars.
Advice
- Mint is a weed in most gardens, and should be planted in pots rather than in the ground.
- Always wear good quality gardening gloves when manually harvesting caterpillars. Some species can sting painfully.
- BT is safe for animals, plants and even beneficial insects.
