Large White Caterpillars

[Whitespin]

Hi

I bought some cell grown winter brassica plants and the next day removed 10 caterpillars from them wondering how I'd missed seeing them when I bought the plants.

The next day there were 7 more scattered round the 40 plants. The plants are kept on a paved area some 40 feet away from the nearest source of caterpillars (my sprout crop). Every day for a week I've been finding 3 or 4 more caterpillars on the plants. They are not hatching out on the plants, some are full grown. My wife and I have searched every inch of the plants and under the pots and moved them right away from all other vegetation yet each morning there they are again.

Anyone have any idea where they could be coming from?

Cheers John

[di]

I think they just have very cunning hiding techniques!We're having the same problem with some that are waiting to be planted~each time I think I've got every tiny egg & any ready munching critter I turn my back for a day & find a monster one busily devouring the leaves!

[Whitespin]

Hi
Thanks for that we thought the same even after the fourth time when, together we went over every inch and both felt certain that no caterpillars were left, next morning there was one medium sized one and each day since one or two. I wondered if they can actually travel the forty feet between a known infestation and these plants.

Incidently we were at Bridgemere Gardens in Cheshire last weekend and saw trays of brassicas for sale that were totally infested with Large White caterpillars so much so that the plants were skeletal.

Cheers John

[zazen999]

That's what happens with brassicas unfortunately. We made a decision yesterday only to grow a few and to keep them covered all the while. It's a constant battle.

[Whitespin]

In reality it goes to show what heavy use of insecticides commercial grower make to keep their crops damage free. We have had a huge number of Large White butterflies in our area since late summer (2nd brood) our sprouts have survived and will crop but there is lots of damage.

Cheers John