These guys showed up on my elephant ear this morning, so far I only noticed this one leaf. This morning there was about 2 inches of brown, tonight more that half the leaf was eaten. I just cut the entire leaf and burned it. BUT, should I treat the entire plant?
Fran
Close up of worms
I'd just watch and see if any more show up on other leaves. This may be the only leaf that any eggs were laid on...
Removing these critters by hand when they are small like this is the most efficient way to get rid of them. Just keep watching....
CJ
Whats the stuff on the bottom of the leaf? Is that spider mites? If so, I would take that leaf off, and any others that have that.
That looks like where the nibblers started nibbling, moving backward. They were even smaller then...As they get larger, they will be able to make holes.
So CJ, What are they?
The larval stage of an insect.... ;-D
frans, These are young caterpillars, and it is hard to tell what they are. They usually change as they grow, and look nothing like the earlier stages. In addition, I can honestly say that I, personally, don't know of any caterpillars that feed on Colocasia. I would love to see what they grow into, but I don't think you are willing to give them that chance. Another very interesting thing about them is that they are feeding in colonies. If anyone out there knows exactly what species they are, please speak up!
CJ
maybe another one of the sawfly family?
We use to have a dogwood bush that the white moths use to lay there eggs on and the worms look similar to those??? not sure tho, it's been a while since we have had any. They also use to get in our river berch tree, I have seen alot of the white moths this year so dh is keeping his eyes open for the worms again this year :o( Hubby used seven powder to get rid of them. They killed our dogwood bush.
Connie
You are right CJ, while I kind of want to know what they are, I don't think I will watch them grow. This batch has already found it's way to the burn barrel.
And the seven is coming out tomorrow. I noticed someone has been chewing a bit on my Hosta.. they should know better than to mess with my Hosta!
Fran
frans - Check under your hosta for snails/slugs. They are notorious for chewing holes in the leaves. I use Slug-go or Escar-go bait for snails. It is an iron phosphate compound and it isn't poisonous to pets like the other snail baits. An added bonus is that it eventually breaks down into an iron product that feeds the hostas. Two benefits for the price of one!
Will do, thanks for the advice
Fran
and BT works on any kind of caterpiller or leaf-chewing worm. much kinder than sevin too.
I agree that Bt is the way to go on caterpillars, but it won't work on sawflies. It only works on the Lepidoptera caterpillars (butterflies and moths).... With sawflies the recommendation would be either insecticidal soap or horticultural oil when they are still small. After that Spinosad or imidacloprid would be the safest recommendations.
i keep forgetting that, ceejay. you've told me that before, i think. (sheepishly creeping off....>)
Nononono - It will be your turn next time! Just be gentle......LOL
BTW, are you in the way of that big storm threatening to cancel the launch?
oh probably. lol, i'm actually smack dab in the middle of the state, so i don't worry the way i used to about storms. i lived with the weather channel on when i lived in the keys. i don't know why they plan these launches this time of year and day. there is a thunderstorm daily.
Maybe my wishing helped. We had afternoon thunderstorms yesterday and today. Emphasis on thunder..
good for you for getting rain if you need it. so much weird weather going on, i forget who is flooding and who is burning, etc. we have thunder right now, either that or cherry bombs or those other big firecrackers, i can't remember now. i think it began with an m.
