Caterpillars are a problem in many gardens, some are beneficial and one or two won’t cause much damage, but a large presence will damage flowers, and vegetable gardens.
Pest caterpillars such as the Tomato Horn Worm, Tent Caterpillar, Genista, and Spring Cankerworm are the most common pest caterpillars and do most of the damage to plants, vegetables, and flowers.
Keep an eye on infestations in your garden and around your property, the early you catch the problem the easier it is to control. Natural caterpillar predators such as wasps and inclement weather also help to get rid of them, but sometimes this is not enough.
If you find masses of caterpillars and their eggs, an easy way to dispose of them is with a gloved hand and putting the mass into a closed can or container with soapy water.
Most of us would rather have caterpillars and butterflies than wasps, but wasps are great control methods so if you can stand to have a few around and aren’t allergic, don’t kill off all the wasps.
If you use pesticides to rid you garden of caterpillars, do it in small doses and treat only the affected plants. Broad spectrum pesticides will kill beneficial insects and you may end up doing more harm than good.
If you haven’t been able to find the right balance or solution of ridding your garden of caterpillars, contact Earth Guard Pest Services at:
916-457-7605
[email protected]
