Just Hatched! need help identifying this worm.

[b0oDy]

I'm having Nasturtium planted next to my tomato and beans. A few days ago I found this decisively friendly looking worms hatching from a yellow eggs and they are devouring the plant. Any idea what it could be?

[lottie dolly]

cabbage white catterpillars,squish them ASP,as they spread to what ever they can get onto to munch,then turn into more butterflies and start again,if like me you are squeamish,put on some gloves,marigolds ext or the thin throw aways one use,

[bearded bloke]

I'm guessing they are the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly

[bearded bloke]

Snap LD

[b0oDy]

Thanks all that was quick. Reading more about it, it starts from yellow eggs. I should have squashed them long time ago when I spotted them the first time. Lesson learned.

[Martin H]

I'm afraid I can't bring myself to go for the genocide strategy.

I let the cabbage white caterpillars roam on non-foodplants, including my nasturtiums, while squishing them on my cabbages at first sight.

Maybe this will cause a master race of cabbage butterflies to evolve that turns their noses up at cabbages and only eats nasturtiums and weed brassicas?

[PyreneesPlot]

I'm the same, Martin, although having nasturtiums running through the cabbages was perhaps foolish
There is a parasitic wasp that needs and therefore controls cwb numbers to some extent another reason for avoiding total genocide.

[muddled]

Okay...I realise this proves I'm a sad old hippy but here goes anyway!

I pick them off my cabbages and put them in a bucket with some netting over the top. Then I feed them with any yellowing or damaged leaves of the plant they were on.
I keep them in the shed so the bucket doesn't fill with rain.
Eventually they make cocoons.
When they hatch (which they all do on the same day) my daughters come out to watch and as I take the net off, the butterflies all rush up and settle on them to dry their wings before fluttering off.
How often do you get to children smothered in butterflies...on their heads, their hands and arms?
It's magical.

There.
I've confessed to being at least partly responsible for the local cabbage white population.
I'm sorry.

[PyreneesPlot]

For every one of you, Muddled, there'll be half a dozen who just get out the spray And what an experience for your daughters.

[b0oDy]

Reading all your stories and experience run tears in my eyes and I think I will call RSPCA and confess first degree homicide for white cabbage butterflies! Naah just kidding. It's great to be at peace with nature even if it's eating your crop.

Muddled, you are very inspiring. I will try this with my daughters as well. Thanks!

[muddled]

Well, I don't wanna burst your bubble or anything but in the interests of honesty...

My chickens steadfastly refuse to eat them and I couldn't think of another satisfactory way to dispose of them.

So, it began as a sort of homemade science lesson for my daughters that turned out to be rather lovely.