On Sun, 31 May 2009 07:59:26 -0700, "gunner"
wrote:


"Soria Spain" wrote in message
...

Hi
I live in a small village in Soria, Northern Spain and recently
inherited an old allotment/orchard with some old apple and pear trees
(est 50 years old). I noticed last year that catapillars had been
eating the leaves and they are doing the same this year. I dont want
to spray chemicals on them and dont even know if I want to remove them.
My question is: will they effect the fruits growth? If so what is the
best non chemical way to remove them, if I must.

--
Soria Spain

try using a Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) or dusting with Diatomaceous
earth according to directions. Organics and neither will affect your fruit,
although the Bt is oft used in making some GM crops.


Depending on the strain, Bt is not necessarily organic. Several of the
Bt strains have themselves been genetically modified to work on
specific pests.
If your caterpillars are of the tent variety, you can do what we do.
Wait until dusk when the caterpillars have all returned to the tent,
then cut off the branch containing the tent, complete with its
caterpillars and burn it.

Ross.