Caterpillars have a lifespan of only around two weeks, but in those two weeks, they can cause massive damage to your crops, orchard, or garden. Depending on the specie, infestations of caterpillars can occur at different times during the year. Many species lay eggs in the fall that will hatch in the spring, or others will repeat this cycle of life several times over a season. Once the eggs hatch, no matter what species you are dealing with, take into consideration the fact that caterpillars are voracious feeders, that will not stop eating until they are ready to enter their new stage and pupate into an adult. Some species have been known to defoliate entire trees, even whole forests, so preventive measures against them are imperative.
With their cutting and chewing mouthparts, also known as mandibles, these insects can cause an exceptional amount of damage if not treated early-on or prevented. The damage they can cause can be so severe that the whole crop can be affected to the point of total loss. If the infestation happens to trees, they might survive a few years of continuous defoliation, but when taking into consideration normal crops, an infestation in a single season can cause irreversible damage. Throughout the years, caterpillars have also developed a strong resistance to insecticides, so getting rid of them can be very tricky. And even if you’ll manage to use chemicals against them, you might also affect beneficial insects such as ladybugs, earthworms and predatory wasps.
Organic and chemical ways of getting rid of caterpillars
The first thing you need to do when dealing with a caterpillar infestation is knowing what type of specie you are dealing with. Caterpillars that are pale green with stripes running down the back are cabbage loopers, which are the larva of a brown and green moth. They prefer eating collard greens, lettuce and kale. If you are fighting caterpillars in August and September, you might me dealing with corn ear-worm, which also like to eat beans, lettuce leaves and tomatoes. And if the plants in your garden are showing signs that they are chewed off at the base, you are probably dealing with cutworms, as they prefer eating the stems of asparagus, cabbage, carrots, corn, and tomatoes.
By practicing organic pest control, you can restrain the spread of the caterpillars and avoid an infestation.
– Spray the foliage of plants with neem oil. It controls caterpillars and other pests, including whiteflies, leaf miners and thrips. However, it may also kill beneficial insects such as bees and earthworms;
– Dust plant foliage with Bacillus thuringiensis powder. Also known as Bt, this is a natural bacteria that kills caterpillars, but it does not harm most other beneficial insects;
– Invite birds and predatory insects into your garden. Hang a bird feeder to attract birds to the area. Ducks and chickens also enjoy eating caterpillars;
– Surround seedlings with a rigid collar, such as a toilet paper roll or plastic cup, to ward off cutworms;
– Shield plants with sheets of porous polyester fabric. Row covers allow light to reach plants while keeping pests away;
– The timing when you plant your garden is essential, as if you plant your crops early and you fertilize them well, you will have a chance of growing strong plants;
– Plant herbs and flowers around your garden to repel caterpillars. Many insects dislike the scent of lavender, mugwort, sage and peppermint, thyme, rosemary;
– Practice crop rotation to cut down on caterpillar infestation. For example, don’t plant tomatoes in the same place two years in a row, as caterpillars usually feed on the same type of plant;
– Cover vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli with fine mesh;
– Use an insect barrier made out of fabric to keep caterpillars away. It is ideal for plants that grow fall vegetables, as pollination does not play a large role, so covering them will not affect their growth;
– Add in your garden plants and flowers such as yarrow, or cilantro, fennel, or dill, as they provide a source of alternative food for beneficial insects, that will eat the caterpillars as well;
– Intercropping is another way to confuse insects such as caterpillars, especially if they will most likely avoid these strong scented plants they do not like;
– When dealing with infested trees, cut down the nests and burn them. You can use a hand saw to cut the affected branch, to make sure you stay far away from them as possible.
More organic methods of getting rid of caterpillars can be achieved with the help of certain predators of these insects. As mentioned above, birds are avid consumers of caterpillars. Whether you have chickens or ducks that can roam in your garden, or you install bird feeders, houses, nesting shelves, or birdbaths to attract birds to your yard, you will be able to reduce the infestation in a natural way.
You can also handpick caterpillars from plants as you find them. You may need to patrol your garden at night as that is when most of the species eat. Relocate the caterpillars to a different area, or kill them by dropping them into a bucket of soapy water, but make sure you always use protective gear when dealing with them. Even if you are persistent with this method, it may not be the most effective one, as you could find another set of caterpillar roaming through your garden the next day. You can also use burlap to catch caterpillars living in a tree. By wrapping the trunk with burlap, the caterpillars will use it to hide underneath it during the day, and so you can quickly smash them.
By using soap or other pesticides you will also have a chance of getting rid of caterpillars from your garden. Pyrethrins poisons are a natural pesticide that is made from plants, specifically chrysanthemums. They are toxic to many pests, including caterpillars, but they are harmless to humans and pets. You need to spray the product onto the infested plants, however it needs to be reapplied after a few days, as it will lose its strength within a few days. By applying a homemade insecticide made out of soap and water, you will be able to affect the caterpillars, as the soap will directly attack their skin. Make sure the soap is biodegradable and plant based in order to avoid harming plants, animals, and bugs that don’t harm your plants.
Spraying concentrated insecticides for Caterpillars control:
Concentrated insecticides are the most common used products in fighting insect infestations. They provide the safety that any insect coming into contact with the treated surfaces dies shortly.
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If all the natural based methods are not working, you can also purchase chemical based pesticides, but be careful to use one that is specifically designed to work against caterpillars, and it will not affect the beneficial insects in your garden. Pest control made against caterpillars can be done by using aerosol insecticide onto the vegetation, whether it is a garden or an orchard that has been affected. An atomizer can be used, or a low pressure sprayer. With the latter, you will need to be patient and careful in covering all the vegetation affected, in order to get the maximum results. You will need to dissolve the insecticide used in the minimum recommended concentration and apply it through spraying. This needs to be done with small nozzles, in order to make an umbrella shaped jet, that will cover a large area or the affected plans, and also causing low a consumption of the solution. We recommend the use of Deltamethrin products, which are based on synthetic pyrethroids, which are some of the he safest classes of pesticides. In small amounts, it is generally considered safe to use around humans, and it can be applied in agricultural uses as well as home pest control.
Sprayers used for Caterpillars control:
The equipment needed for a professional Pest Control Operator depends on the type of pest the treatment is made against, and if the treated surface is indoors or outdoors. Sprayers help in applying products meant to reach difficult places, as well as guaranteeing an economic control of the treatment application.
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Mist Blowers used for Caterpillars control:
Mist blowers are also useful for treatment application, as they use a very low volume application rate per unit area / space, that guarantees economic control of pests.
Keep in mind when dealing with a caterpillar infestation that if you manage it from the beginning, you have chances of managing it with a high rate of success. Besides the eradication methods shown here, the most important step that can be taken against such infestation is prevention. Taking care of a healthy garden will make it grow quickly and strongly. Protect your crops and make sure they are fertilised, and half the job will already be done. For more details on how you can prevent a caterpillar infestation, visit pour related article “Prevent infestation with caterpillars” and find out more ways in which you can protect your orchard, garden and even your yard from these pests.
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