humph, caterpillar eggs on me brassicas..

[hoofhearted]

what do you use (organic ideas preferable) to get rid??

[shemlock]

The only organic way that I know, is to pick them off by hand. As I am not very fond of wiggly things, I have turned my veg. patch back to lawn.

[Fi]

Hand picking is the most effective way that I'm aware of.
If you don't care to touch wriggly things, a cheap pair of kitchen tongs and/or thin rubber gloves is just the thing.

[Jim Kahna]

Jul 14, 2008 13:04:49 GMT Fi said:

Hand picking is the most effective way that I'm aware of.
If you don't care to touch wriggly things, a cheap pair of kitchen tongs and/or thin rubber gloves is just the thing.

And what's your method for removing caterpillars?



We have found that there are some natural nematodes as we've discovered caterpillars crawling up the wall at the end of the year. Once they've reached as high as they can go then they stop and semi-cocoon themselves in silk (but not a full one). Then worms start to crawl out of their bodies. We've never caught any of the worms to see what they turn into though.

Maybe we should. Then we could start selling caterpillar nematodes to go with the slug ones.

[/b]

[BjornTobyStomped]

I used a mild solution of washing up liquid on mine to get rid of wolly aphids on mine.

[Fi]

Jul 14, 2008 14:13:23 GMT Jim Kahna said:

Jul 14, 2008 13:04:49 GMT Fi said:

Hand picking is the most effective way that I'm aware of.
If you don't care to touch wriggly things, a cheap pair of kitchen tongs and/or thin rubber gloves is just the thing.

And what's your method for removing caterpillars?

[/b][/quote]
I don't mind wiggly things, so I pick them off and squish them - which is rather revolting, but not as revolting as finding one on your plate. However, and I omitted to say this before, the best way to be rid of them is to inspect the undersides of leaves daily and squish their eggs before they hatch. The eggs are small and yellow, but so distinctive that description will be enough to identify them.
To go back to the wriggly stage - the hairs that the caterpillars are covered in can lead to rashes, or even a full blown and dangerous allergic reaction. Rather than risk it, as I did in my ignorance, I suggest it makes sense to wear gloves to handle them, however briefly.