This isn't some high-end salad bar! - Worm Woes

[Paul]

Hello everybody!

Its been about a month since I have moved all of my hibs indoors. Today I noticed that some of the plants had leaves that had tiny little lace-like holes in them (Picture 1). So I knew something had to be eating at the leaves. Upon closer inspection, I found this little green caterpillar/worm on the underside of the leaf just snacking away! (Pictures 2 & 3) I pulled the little bugger off and got rid of it. So I decided to check the other plants just in case. Thank God that I did! So far I have found and disposed of at least 15 of these little green bastards.

So what the heck are they? And how can I get rid of them? I have been using Kontos to keep spider mites from becoming a problem, so I'm guessing it has no effect on these things? Or should I up the dose?  I can't just keep inspecting every leaf on every plant.... somehow I have gotten up to 80+ hibiscus (What have I done?). LOL

As if spider mites weren't enough to worry about....

[Charlie]

Hi Paul,

Good thing you inspected and found out what the pest was! Nice job and thanks for documenting it for the rest of us.

Caterpillars can be gotten rid of using Spinosad, which you may already have for thrips control. Another standard spray for them is BT, a type of bacteria that will kill them, too. Both these products are organic and have very low toxicity for mammals. I don't think increasing the dose of Kontos will help.

Here are links to the HVH page for spinosad and another site that discusses both products:
http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/spinosadinfo.html
http://yardener.com/YardenersToolshedofProducts/PestInsectControlProducts/OrganicProductsToKillInsects/NaturalInsecticides/BacillusThuriengensisBtProducts

Charlie

[davidwood]

The BT Charlie mentions is Bacillus Thuringiensis and it works a treat for caterpillars, I was getting some huge ones here, growing to the size of my thumb after devastating my Andeniums, I think it was John who put me on to it and I haven't had one since, strangely enough they never touched my Hibs, I sprayed once and as a prevention I spray every 3 months.

[Paul]

Thanks Charlie and David for the advice! Definitely worth checking into!

[LJG]

Looks like a canker worm. BT is a cheap way to kill them. Spinosad does it too.