caterpillars eating my blueberry tree

[GardenFan]

I had a problem with caterpillers homing on my blueberry tree towards the end of last summer and the little blighters are back, the damage is quite bad to the point of destroying most of the leaves that have opened. I picked every single one by hand today so I think the tree is clear but I have two questions. a) what spray\measure is best to take to stop this happening again b) has anyone else every had this happen?

I have two other smaller trees on the other side of the garden and these are not effected. The caterpillers are also found of the cranberry leaves that are homed in the base of the tree.

[GardenFan]

Having done a bit of research I suspect that this may have been an attack from winter moths.

[Alice]

What a shame Gardenfan. I'm not a fan of spraying anything - but desperate situations do require desperate measures. Every year we had the caterrpillars of the may flies absolutely skeletalising the polygonatum plants. Last year I sprayed them - I think it was called Bug Gun or something similar - and it worked. No caterpillars. It could be an option for you.

[GardenFan]

Thanks Alice I launched a two pronged attack today! I coated a 4 inch area of the trunk in a grease (called amazingly fruit tree grease ) which helps prevent them getting up the trunk. I also sprayed the entire tree, I don't like doing this either and its a last resort. I'll winter wash the trees this winter and that along with grease should (fingers crossed) prevent attack.

[Flummery]

Could they be saw fly larvae? Polygonatum suffers badly some years - and gooseberry can be attacked by a sawfly. Sprays usually tell you what they will and will not tackle.