Aquilegia munchers
 

I grow a lot of different varieties of Aquilegia. Late summer last
year they were attacked by very small green caterpillars. It was only
the aquilegias that were affected. I managed to kill them all.
Yesterday I discovered the start of another mass attack, this much
earlier than last year. Again only the aquilegias. Has anyone any
idea what the culprit is? There aren't too many butterflies around
yet.

Regards
Iris McCanna

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Aquilegia munchers
 

"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote in message
...
I grow a lot of different varieties of Aquilegia. Late summer last
year they were attacked by very small green caterpillars. It was only
the aquilegias that were affected. I managed to kill them all.
Yesterday I discovered the start of another mass attack, this much
earlier than last year. Again only the aquilegias. Has anyone any
idea what the culprit is? There aren't too many butterflies around
yet.

Regards
Iris McCanna

--

I don't know the answer to your question but the butterfly caterpillars
are hugely outnumbered by moth and other insect caterpillars.

Bel

Aquilegia munchers
 

"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote
I grow a lot of different varieties of Aquilegia. Late summer last
year they were attacked by very small green caterpillars. It was only
the aquilegias that were affected. I managed to kill them all.
Yesterday I discovered the start of another mass attack, this much
earlier than last year. Again only the aquilegias. Has anyone any
idea what the culprit is? There aren't too many butterflies around
yet.

That's probably sawfly, the larvae will attack aquilegias. The plants
recover if damaged foliage is cut hard back.

Sue

Aquilegia munchers
 

"Annabel" wrote in message ...
"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote in message
...
I grow a lot of different varieties of Aquilegia. Late summer last
year they were attacked by very small green caterpillars. It was only
the aquilegias that were affected. I managed to kill them all.
Yesterday I discovered the start of another mass attack, this much
earlier than last year. Again only the aquilegias. Has anyone any
idea what the culprit is? There aren't too many butterflies around
yet.

Regards
Iris McCanna

--

I don't know the answer to your question but the butterfly caterpillars
are hugely outnumbered by moth and other insect caterpillars.

Bel

Generally the only European butterflies that are major pests are the
two Cabbage
Whites. Pieris brassicae (The Large White) and Pieris rapae (The Small
White).
(Technically Pieris cheiranthi too but it is only on a few of the
Canary islands)
There are other species for which garden plants are on the list of
foodplants but generally they won't touch them in a garden situation.
In France you might just get Swallowtails on your carrots, but that
is worth it. They really are spectacular and so are the caterpillars
There is one on the centre of my home page. I am growing carrots and
several other unbellifers just for captive Swallowtails.

Caterpillar problems are much more likely to be moths. Nothing
specific comes immediately to mind. If you have caterpillars that
gather on the edge of the leaves and curl out defensively when
approached they are the larvae of sawflies.

--
Neil Jones- http://www.butterflyguy.com/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn
Bog National Nature Reserve

Aquilegia munchers
 

"Neil Jones" wrote in message
m...


Generally the only European butterflies that are major pests are the
two Cabbage
Whites. Pieris brassicae (The Large White) and Pieris rapae (The
Small
White).
(Technically Pieris cheiranthi too but it is only on a few of the
Canary islands)
There are other species for which garden plants are on the list of
foodplants but generally they won't touch them in a garden
situation.
In France you might just get Swallowtails on your carrots, but that
is worth it. They really are spectacular and so are the caterpillars
There is one on the centre of my home page. I am growing carrots and
several other unbellifers just for captive Swallowtails.

Caterpillar problems are much more likely to be moths. Nothing
specific comes immediately to mind. If you have caterpillars that
gather on the edge of the leaves and curl out defensively when
approached they are the larvae of sawflies.

--
Neil Jones-

Thanks Neil and everyone. Yes, we do have a lot of Swallowtails here,
not seen yet this year though. They love the fennel and later on there
are always dozens of caterpillars just on the two fennels (green and
bronze).

I think the most likely answer is sawfly. It is only the aquilegias
that have been attacked in a very large area full of perennials. Last
year for the first time and again now.

Thanks again.

Aquilegia munchers
 

"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote in message ...
"Neil Jones" wrote in message
m...


Generally the only European butterflies that are major pests are the
two Cabbage
Whites. Pieris brassicae (The Large White) and Pieris rapae (The
Small
White).
(Technically Pieris cheiranthi too but it is only on a few of the
Canary islands)
There are other species for which garden plants are on the list of
foodplants but generally they won't touch them in a garden
situation.
In France you might just get Swallowtails on your carrots, but that
is worth it. They really are spectacular and so are the caterpillars
There is one on the centre of my home page. I am growing carrots and
several other unbellifers just for captive Swallowtails.

Caterpillar problems are much more likely to be moths. Nothing
specific comes immediately to mind. If you have caterpillars that
gather on the edge of the leaves and curl out defensively when
approached they are the larvae of sawflies.

--
Neil Jones-

Thanks Neil and everyone. Yes, we do have a lot of Swallowtails here,
not seen yet this year though. They love the fennel and later on there
are always dozens of caterpillars just on the two fennels (green and
bronze).

Oh I envy you!
As it happens I have just planted 4 bronze fennels and 3 green ones.
Fennel is a better option as a foodplant, but they will take all sorts
of things in the Unbeliferae and sometimes even Rutaceae. I have read
of Choysia ternata being used. Unfortunately the unique distinctive
British Swallowtail is only found in the Norfolk Broads.

I think the most likely answer is sawfly. It is only the aquilegias
that have been attacked in a very large area full of perennials. Last
year for the first time and again now.

Maybe. I can't tell at this distance but many insects specialise on
one species
of plant so you can't be sure. Take a look at the caterpillars they
will have 3 pairs of joined legs on the thorax towards the head.
Further back there are more pairs of legs but these are more fleshy.
If there are more than 5 pairs of these then you have sawflies.
--
Neil Jones- http://www.butterflyguy.com/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn
Bog National Nature Reserve


Thanks again.

Aquilegia munchers
 

"Barry & Iris McCanna" wrote in message ...
"Neil Jones" wrote in message
m...


Generally the only European butterflies that are major pests are the
two Cabbage
Whites. Pieris brassicae (The Large White) and Pieris rapae (The
Small
White).
(Technically Pieris cheiranthi too but it is only on a few of the
Canary islands)
There are other species for which garden plants are on the list of
foodplants but generally they won't touch them in a garden
situation.
In France you might just get Swallowtails on your carrots, but that
is worth it. They really are spectacular and so are the caterpillars
There is one on the centre of my home page. I am growing carrots and
several other unbellifers just for captive Swallowtails.

Caterpillar problems are much more likely to be moths. Nothing
specific comes immediately to mind. If you have caterpillars that
gather on the edge of the leaves and curl out defensively when
approached they are the larvae of sawflies.

--
Neil Jones-

Thanks Neil and everyone. Yes, we do have a lot of Swallowtails here,
not seen yet this year though. They love the fennel and later on there
are always dozens of caterpillars just on the two fennels (green and
bronze).

Oh I envy you!
As it happens I have just planted 4 bronze fennels and 3 green ones.
Fennel is a better option as a foodplant, but they will take all sorts
of things in the Unbeliferae and sometimes even Rutaceae. I have read
of Choysia ternata being used. Unfortunately the unique distinctive
British Swallowtail is only found in the Norfolk Broads.

I think the most likely answer is sawfly. It is only the aquilegias
that have been attacked in a very large area full of perennials. Last
year for the first time and again now.

Maybe. I can't tell at this distance but many insects specialise on
one species
of plant so you can't be sure. Take a look at the caterpillars they
will have 3 pairs of joined legs on the thorax towards the head.
Further back there are more pairs of legs but these are more fleshy.
If there are more than 5 pairs of these then you have sawflies.
--
Neil Jones- http://www.butterflyguy.com/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn
Bog National Nature Reserve


Thanks again.