Does anyone know who to stop caterpillars from ravaging their trees? ive been battling them for some weeks now, it stopped for a bit, but then started again recently. It is definitely caterpillars since ive squished several of them. completely ruined my zelkova foliage
Short answer: Regularly spray every ten days with Confidor reducing after 20 days, to every 14 days at first sign of them. Then every 3 weeks until next sighting. Over the top but will work.
regards, AnneK.
My favourite tree is the one I'm working on at any given time.
Thanks AnneK. They seem to be only attacking my Zelkova and chinese elm though, even though my maples are quite close. i might spray the other ones too once they get their leaves again.
I just use a light spray of pyrethrum every week or two in caterpillar season--also good for killing aphids but not so good for your pet spiders and other beneficials
For caterpillars use Dipel. It is a fungus that only affects caterpillars so safe for birds, bees and bonsai growers but deadly to caterpillars. Needs to be applied every couple of weeks to kill new ones as they hatch.
I am intrigued that you have caterpillars in June in Sydney??? What happened to insects hibernating in winter?
If they are only eating zelkova and elms it could be elm leaf beetles. The larvae are small grubs that chew holes in the leaves. They do not appear here until spring and summer but may be active all year round up there? Not sure whether Dipel affects beetle larvae but Confidor is registered to control them.
well the "caterpillars" are long, green and have 6 legs higher up the body. i don't imagine they're beetle grubs. This is actually the first time ive seen this particular caterpillar, i used to see a different type on the balcony several years ago (prior to having my trees) but have not seen them since. what is unfortunate is that my trees seem to be slow to drop their leaves, (all my deciduous trees have only just changed colour and are beginning to drop). i think the "caterpillars" may be falling from the huge eucalypt outside.
