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vic Mar 10, 2002

I noticed my hollyhock leaves were being eaten and had lots of holes. Sooooooo, I pulled all the mulch away from them and put a layer of wood ashes around them and then sunk a container of beer next to that. Went out this morning and the beer containers were full of all sorts of nasty bugs and scary looking worms - not slugs or snails or normal worms - looked sort of like caterpillars. And there were snails dying in the wood ashes..Hope I can stay two steps ahead of them...

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Weezingreens Seward, AK(Zone 3b) Mar 10, 2002

Vic: There is a product out there to kill slugs and snails. It is Iron Phosphate in an oat or grain based pellet that attracts the little buggers. When they eat it, it does something to their insides and they can't feed. Iron Phosphate is harmeless to people and other critters, so it's safe to use. I've seen it under two company names: Sluggo and Escargot. You can sprinkle a small amount around the base of the plants and it holds up pretty well in moisture.

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vic Mar 10, 2002

Thanks for the tip! We have cats that wander through the garden and I wouldn't want to harm them. Thanks again!!

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DawnG Chardon, OH(Zone 5a) Mar 11, 2002

I know this was a long time ago, but I joined recently and this is a curiosity to me. I don't want to make you feel bad, but there is a butterfly (painted lady) that feeds specifically on hollyhock leaves, which is why many butterfly gardening books suggest planting them. Check out this web site and see if these are the caterpillars you saw.
http://www.genevaschools.org/austinbg/class/gray/9899/butterfl/raising.htm
If that doesn't help, try this page for other suggestions:
http://www.caes.state.ct.us/PlantPestHandbookFiles/pphH/pphholk.htm

I have hollyhocks that have holey leaves every year, but I also have the benefit of painted lady butterflies hanging around all summer long.

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vic Mar 12, 2002

No, this is definitely not a butterfly. I have a book that specifically shows me what the caterpillar for butterflies look like. I'm an avid butterfly and bird person and would never harm them. I appreciate the info though. Thanks...

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