This afternoon was inspecting my garden and saw this. The three tops of my peach bellflower were sheared almost off. They are hanging by a thread.
If it is an insect any suggestions on getting rid of it. I have been noticing some young ferns and some other seedlings have been sheared off but not eaten.
My first thought is some sort of cutworm, maybe? I know they usually cut the plant off at ground level... but may these ones are different...? Just a first thought.
Thanks any way to get rid of cutworms
Well, first I think you'd have to make sure I'm right. ;) If that's what it is, many (most?) prefer to feed at night, so you'd have to go out in the dark to try to spot them. They are not real "worms", but moth larvae.... caterpillars. If you determine that's what they are, then you may have to do some digging to hand-pick them and smush them. Growing plants that attract natural beneficial predators (like parasitic wasps) would be good. You can also apply parasitic nematodes to your soil as well, but you would need to be very careful to follow directions precisely.
Thanks Speedie will check it out tonight. Will look up plants that attract the wasps you mentioned. :)
I sure hope that was helpful! Was typing that early yesterday morning while the household was still asleep... trying not to 'clackety-click' too loudly on the keyboard. ;) Was hoping I'd put helpful thoughts out there for ya! =)
Parasitic wasps are helpful, but they're not the only 'good' bugs,... there are others, but that was the only example that came to my head. Lady bugs are another good one... if you do a search I'm sure you can find others. And the nematodes... you can get those now where all ya gotta do is add water and spray... easy peezey! =)
