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#1
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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 -- (All outgoing messages certified virus free) |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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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 |
#5
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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. |
#6
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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. |
#7
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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. |
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