I noticed several days ago that something was stripping the leaves on my brugs, but couldn't see anything. I thought that it must be something that came out at night, like vampire bugs sucking the blood out of my brugs. lol This morning I started looking closer and discovered these little green worms on the underside of the leaves. They are exactly the same color as the leaves and cling to them like glue. You have to pull them off, as they won't shake off. I had a stomping party on my patio, but don't know if I still need to spray the brugs or not. Any suggestions as to what these are, and if there are any other solutions other than BT?
Little Green Worms
Why do you not want to use Bt? It really works well and I only have to spray it once usually. It also is environmentally sound as it is not like other insecticides, I understand.
I have read some sprinkle Sevin on the plants.
Do they look like this? they are so hungry for their size.
That's the little buggers. May they are big eaters. The BT won't hurt the plants? I thought that it might.
I spray it with no harm at all. It is supposedly safe for the environment also. Unfortunately HD has stopped selling it. I need to check Lowes.
Great. We have a Lowe's about a mile from our house. We also have a HD close and a Wal-Mart. I'm going to call them and see if any of them have it. I'm afraid I'm not going to have any leaves left by tomorrow.
Kell , is it called Bt or that a abbreviation of the name of the product?
Bacillus thuringiensis is the full name. Is a bacterium that only effects wormy critters... like caterpillars. It's a species of BT that's used to kill mosquito larvae too.
Sue I think you need to get Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis to kill mosquitos. I had a horrible time finding Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis to kill my fungus gnats that were in all my amaryllis pots and Susie told me to go out and buy mosquito dunks for pools. It was the only thing I could find that had Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis in it. I crushed the dunk up and let stand in water for a few hours then watered. 1 application and the gnats were gone!
I now use the dunks in my huge saucers I have outside under my clay pots for my big brugs. I fill the saucers up with water and it really helps hold the watering down a little. I put half a dunk in the saucer to kill any mosquito larvae. I sure hope it works. I haven't gotten bitten yet!
Here is a great site on it.
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/fea207.html
Oh Sue I just heard on the news that the temps in Maine will be 20 to 30s tonight! Amazing how fast winter descends! Get the blankets out fast!
Awww Sue, I thought just one night in 40's might be ok, but if it is that bad, better get them covered, or in. Good luck!
Ya all made me go check the weather again.... for the 15th time today. It's not gonna get that cold here. I'd be freakin! High 40s here tonite. Maybe up north it will get colder but I'm safe on the coast.
I haven't been able to find BT - anyone know a source in GA? I have the little critters on my hardy hibiscus - they are all now lace leaf. Brenda
Poppy Sue, thank you for the information on BT. Kelly
can you tell me where you find it? I have been having an awful time with those little green worms this year.
http://www.groworganic.com/a/a.html?sCategory=437
Here is one place that sells it. I just did a search to find it.
And another. http://www.gardensalive.com/prog_display.asp?PROG_NBR=11&NAV=10
This message was edited Sep 12, 2003 11:46 PM
Patricia, I was getting it at HD but they seem to have stopped selling it. It comes in a very small contianer. Brugies's first link looked good. I may look at in a fancy nursery first, I bet Orchards on Acalanes has it. Brugie's looked like a good price.