Caterpillar prevention?

CA MTN MAN

Well-Known Member
interested in hearing how you guys prepair for and prevent the dreaded green pillar out here in California.
 
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BWG707

Well-Known Member
Morning and evening patrols and inspections with tweezers. It's a daily non stop job. Look for eggs also, not just the worms. Might get tough depending on how big your garden is.
 
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TWS

Well-Known Member
DE is for cockroaches and ants, not to spray on your flower. . Bud worms start on the inside of the flower where the eggs are laid and work their way out in the mean time destroying the bud. So what is DE going to do ? Besides taste good ?
 

latewood

Active Member
DE scratches the exoskeleton, and dehydrate worms, and they die. No harm to the plant.

a shower at the end of flower is advised. Totally eradicates "spider mites". No doubt about it!

i use this product in my commercial hydroponic greenhouse, and have great success.
 

Diabolical666

Well-Known Member
BT for worms and catapillars. I wouldnt spray D.E. on plants . Its used to sprinkle on the soil, which basically would deter the capatillers as well from crawling on your shit. All these chemicals need to be reapplied after rains and washings
 

13013

New Member
I'm told that Safer's caterpillar killer works but can discolor the plants, and that Spinosad works as well. I'm not much of an outdoor guy (yet) so couldn't say from first hand experience.
 

calicocalyx

Well-Known Member
Every time I've used BT as a preventative, early in the season, zero caterpillars. I think that bacteria eats the larva or something like that, which is why it doesn't quite work once there are little caterpillars roamin around. Works great on cabbage moth too, in the spring/early summer, when you see those white moths flitting around, go look at everywhere they land, you'll most likely see eggs.
 

Diabolical666

Well-Known Member
damn moths...carry micromites too
Every time I've used BT as a preventative, early in the season, zero caterpillars. I think that bacteria eats the larva or something like that, which is why it doesn't quite work once there are little caterpillars roamin around. Works great on cabbage moth too, in the spring/early summer, when you see those white moths flitting around, go look at everywhere they land, you'll most likely see eggs.
 
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TWS

Well-Known Member
Every time I've used BT as a preventative, early in the season, zero caterpillars. I think that bacteria eats the larva or something like that, which is why it doesn't quite work once there are little caterpillars roamin around. Works great on cabbage moth too, in the spring/early summer, when you see those white moths flitting around, go look at everywhere they land, you'll most likely see eggs.

BT will work on the little worms just once you see them they've all ready done the damage. BT is ingested by the worm and eats em inside out. has no effect on the moth or egg that does not eat the plant. That's why it's a must to start applying at pre flower.
 

latewood

Active Member
Good idea
BT for worms and catapillars. I wouldnt spray D.E. on plants . Its used to sprinkle on the soil, which basically would deter the capatillers as well from crawling on your shit. All these chemicals need to be reapplied after rains and washings
DE is not a chemical. it is fossilized shell flower, and it is totally edible and used as a filler in way more foods than you would imagine. Wish you all luck with your BT. And; BTW; You use a garden duster to apply DE Food Grade Codex. It is a dry application.
 

puck1969

Well-Known Member
I use BT at my job and it works great. It just doesn't last long and like TWS says, the worms consume
it and the microbes get into the gut of the worm and kill it. It doesn't affect any mammals bees or birds.
 
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