Pesky pests
By sofs
@sofssu (23662)
February 5, 2016 12:19am CST
A garden with lovely flowers to attract butterflies and humming birds also attracts other pesky pests, though unintentionally.
My little garden has Ixora, pentas, Lantana and verbinas that attract butterflies and sunbirds. It also seem to encourage butterflies to lay eggs on my plants and today as I was watering my garden I noticed huge caterpillars on some plants. My tiny lemon plants always takes a beating when this happens.
This meant that I had to spend a long time in the garden today carefully looking for and removing all caterpillars on them.
I am not too fond of handling these creepy crawlies, but I do it if I need too. Are you okay with handling worms and pests?
Click on the picture to see the beautiful markings on this pest.
12 people like this
12 responses
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
5 Feb 16
It isn't too often to see caterpillars though!
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
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5 Feb 16
@infatuatedbby Not in my garden.. I'll probably find them everyday if I am not careful to spray my weekly homemade non chemical pesticide spray.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
5 Feb 16
I alwayss see that kind of pest in your photo in my lemon trees. i'm using gloves to take them out of the leaves. i can't touch them with my bare hands. Grasshopper and ants are also the pests that frequent my garden and like you, I need extra time in my garden to get rid of them.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
5 Feb 16
@salonga I did not bother to go and get my gloves.. I just ripped the leaves off and collected them in a can to be disposed off later in an open area. It takes so much time to get these pests off the lemon bushes doesn't it. I do have grasshoppers and ants here too. I spray diluted dish wash liquid to get rid of them.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168327)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Feb 16
He is handsome isn't he? I read years back that ceyenne pepper in water will get rid of aphids. I wonder if this would help in the egg stage.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168327)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Feb 16
@sofssu ....Oh, darn. Well, hope you find one that does.
@sofssu (23662)
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6 Feb 16
@celticeagle I read that online and tried it too but it doesn't seem to help though.. He is handsome alright.. but too handsome for my citrus plants.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
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6 Feb 16
@Jessicalynnt How much? enough to play with them? Or let them eat your precious plants.
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Feb 16
@sofssu play with, and relocate out of my plants to plants in the field nearby lol
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 Feb 16
@Susan2015 I don't in texas either, but then again, I don't go looking anymore really either
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
5 Feb 16
i used to dig worms and hunt night crawlers in my younger days. but now don't think i would like it. maybe use gloves?
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
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5 Feb 16
@bunnybon7 I used to be like you when I was young.. now I use gloves or get them off without having to touch them.
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@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
5 Feb 16
Great photo...I know they're pests but I like to see them....
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
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6 Feb 16
@sueznewz2 I like to see them too but not on my plants though
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@Ladypeace (2028)
• Singapore
6 Feb 16
I'm fascinated by bugs and always go up close to observe. I love to see caterpillars crawl slowly and steadily without a care in the world.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
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6 Feb 16
@Ladypeace I do that too.. but I get rid of them fast when they are on my plants.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
5 Feb 16
Beautiful caterpilar. too bad I do not garden so I have nothing to share about that.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
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6 Feb 16
@nottoooldtowrite I am glad you enjoyed the beautiful markings on his body.. that was what this post was all about anyways.
1 person likes this