posted
My raspberry leaves are being ravaged by small caterpillars I'm told are sawfly larvae. I know I can buy a bottle of bacteria which kill the larvae, but my garden is huge, so it would be expensive and time-consuming to spray the whole lot.
My question is: since the canes drop their leaves every winter, should I even worry about the destruction? If so, I don't have to try to kill the larvae.
Thanks in advance, Rob
Plants: 4 | From: Berkeley, CA | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 71.131.35.197
posted
I can tell you that the "bacteria" will not work on sawflies because they are not caterpillars, they are immature wasps. The "bacteria" only works on caterpillars which are the larval stage of moths and butterflies.
* * * * The Buglady Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, www.bugladyconsulting.com Educating the world... one bug at a time Plants: 435 | From: PA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 205.188.116.9
quote:Originally posted by Buglady: I can tell you that the "bacteria" will not work on sawflies because they are not caterpillars, they are immature wasps. The "bacteria" only works on caterpillars which are the larval stage of moths and butterflies.
I know, but it's the caterpillars that are eating my leaves and so it's the caterpillars I want to kill.
But the main question is -- do I even need to worry about the holes in the leaves, given that the leaves are needed only for one year?
Rob B.
Plants: 4 | From: Berkeley, CA | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 71.131.35.197
and the point is.. that BT will not kill sawflies. So if you wanted to treat the bacteria you have will not work.
As for the damage they do, a few holes will not hurt but also the over all health of you plant can make a difference. Healthy plants can handle a few holes where stressed ones would take it harder.
* * * * The Buglady Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, www.bugladyconsulting.com Educating the world... one bug at a time Plants: 435 | From: PA | Registered: Jan 2004
| Seeded: 152.163.101.7
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