Suddenly the leaves of cabbage or herbs are eaten away, the fruit shows holes and other damage, as every gardener is well aware. In order to know which caterpillar infestation it is, the list of the different species and their identification in the different plant groups was created.

In a nutshell

  • caterpillars are usually larvae of butterflies and moths
  • Depending on the species, they infest fruit, vegetables or leaves of trees and shrubs
  • there are very aggressive species that can destroy an entire bush
  • do not fight but collect to maintain the butterfly population
  • Pests vary in appearance from yellow to green to variegated and are hairy or smooth berry fruit bushes

berry bushes

There are caterpillars that have specialized in the sweet fruit of berry bushes. An infestation of the berries is of course very annoying, since they are then no longer edible and usable. In order for these to be recognized quickly, it is helpful to know the damage pattern and the appearance of the respective pests:

Gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii)

  • Leaf damage on gooseberry bushes
  • also affects currant bushes
  • eat the bushes from the inside out
  • Defecation within a few days
  • small green caterpillars are larvae
  • up to two centimeters long
  • conspicuous black warts
  • bristle hair

Notice: The larvae of the gooseberry sawfly are not the kind you are otherwise familiar with from caterpillars. Nevertheless, when these pests appear in the garden, it is a very serious problem. Because they also attack other varieties of berry bushes.

vegetables

If the cabbages or other vegetables in the garden have been eaten, then it does not always have to be slugs, which naturally cause damage close to the ground. Various caterpillars that hatch from the eggs laid in the vegetables of butterflies or moths can also be the cause:

Vegetable owl (Lacanobia (Diataraxia) oleracea)

  • Damage to tomatoes, cabbage, peas or lettuce
  • also likes to eat the sweet fruits of the strawberries
  • pitting in leaves
  • droppings on fruit
  • up to 45 millimeters long
  • different bright colors
  • grey, brown, green or even pink
  • white or yellow lines on the sides

Tip: You don't have to assume that the green caterpillar species are also poisonous at the same time. The insects protect themselves with their color, merging with the ground on which they sit. However, some of the pests can become poisonous to their foraging enemies when they eat.

Large Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)

  • Infestation of cabbages and cruciferous plants
  • the nasturtium is also affected
  • up to four inches long
  • yellow-green body
  • black spots
  • fine white hair

Notice: The young caterpillars of the cabbage white are usually found in large groups on the infested plants and can thus be easily collected and destroyed.

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

  • feeds on umbelliferae
  • found in the garden bed on carrots, fennel or dill
  • becomes up to 45 millimeters long
  • Basic color mint green
  • Ringlets on body are mottled yellow-black
  • without hair
  • in case of danger emission of fragrance

Notice: As a rule, the various caterpillar species are feeding during the summer from May to October. In winter you will find isolated specimens that have fallen into hibernation and hibernate.

herbs and others

Unfortunately, herbs are often not spared from the voracious caterpillar larvae and it can happen, if the caterpillar infestation is very large, that an entire herb in the garden bed is destroyed:

Broad-winged band owl (Noctua comes)

Source: Olei, Noctua.comes.6967, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • occurs between autumn and May
  • various herbs, but also flowers and berries
  • up to six inches long
  • green-brown to reddish-grey
  • dark triangular spots on side and back
  • glabrous

Medium vine hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor)

  • feeds on evening primrose, fuchsias, fireweed and balsam
  • between five and eight inches long
  • young specimens are green
  • older pests are brown to black
  • two eyespots on each side of abdomen
  • no hair

fruit and other trees

Both fruit trees and ornamental trees can be infested by various caterpillars, which leave behind a great deal of damage if they are not recognized and combated. Not only the leaves, but also the fruits of a tree can suffer from the voracious caterpillars:

Evening Peacock (Smerinthus ocellata)

  • Infestation on apple trees but also birches, poplars and willows
  • eats leaves and buds
  • The apple harvest will then be less
  • up to eight inches long
  • green-blue, sometimes also green-yellow
  • on the sides sloping yellow stripes from bottom to top
  • many small white dots
  • Anal horn is light blue

Asian box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis)

  • causes dry leaves and leaf loss
  • up to the point of baldness
  • only on boxwood
  • bright crumbs of feces
  • small nests of cobwebs
  • living inside the plant
  • light to dark green
  • black or white dots
  • about five inches long

Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea)

  • Feeding on sprouting buds
  • on young leaves
  • not only on oaks but also on other deciduous trees
  • 20 to 30 millimeters long
  • bluish to black-grey
  • dark head
  • hairy

Notice: The hair of the processionary moth is very brittle and can easily be blown away by the wind. Inhalation or contact will cause allergic reactions and irritation of the respiratory tract. It is therefore better not to remove the nests yourself, but to call an expert for help.

Web moth (Yponomeutidae)

  • whole shoots are eaten bare
  • leads to the death of the plant
  • on poplars, hawthorn and bird cherry
  • covered with gossamer
  • yellow-green with black dots
  • black head
  • Body looks transparent when exposed to light

Lesser Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata)

  • Damage to buds, flowers, young leaves and fruits
  • on fruit trees and ornamental shrubs
  • sometimes webs
  • up to 25 millimeters long
  • green to brown to green colouration

frequently asked Questions

Should I collect caterpillars if I find any in the garden?

Of course, this is the best solution to get rid of the pests gently. Because mostly these are the caterpillars of butterflies, which should not actually be killed. It is therefore advisable to collect the caterpillars when you see them, put them in a container and then release the animals in a place far away from your own garden.

Can I fight those sitting in trees with water?

If one or more tall trees have been infested, where the pests have migrated up to the crown in order to cause damage here, it makes sense to use a hose to help. Because with this you can spray the trees hard with water and wash off a large part of the pests. These then fall to the ground and can be picked up or destroyed.

Are the vegetables still usable and edible if I find caterpillar droppings on them?

Of course, you can still use and prepare the vegetables, such as cabbage, as usual, even if you have found caterpillar droppings on them. Because it can be easily washed off without leaving any residue. You don't have to dispose of a head of cabbage that's so dirty.

Are there natural enemies of pests that I can use?

Yes, that's entirely possible. Natural enemies such as parasitic wasps (Ichneumonidae) or assassin bugs (Bacillus thuringiensis) are available in well-stocked gardening shops and can be placed near the infested plants. The natural enemies feed on the caterpillars and fight them naturally. Neem oil can also be used against different types of caterpillars.

Category:

Garden pests