how do i get rid of caterpillars from my vegetable patch?

twinkletoes asks: how do i get rid of caterpillars from my vegetable patch?
my veggies all seem to be growing well but I now seem to have loads of caterpillars on my sprouts and beans. help!!

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Answer by Watch IT!
sevin dust

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6 comments

  1. I’ve used just plain white flour (with nothing else added) to suffocate caterpillars & cabbage loopers. If I see evidence that they are around, I just sprinkle some flour on the leaves when they are wet. When the caterpillars crawl up onto the leaves, they get pasted & fall off.
    I’ve also poured sour milk on caterpillar eggs & that killed them.
    I learned this years ago from reading “Organic Gardening” & “Mother Earth News”. You can also handpick the caterpillars & dispose of them if you see a few.

    B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis), used as a safe, natural control against caterpillars, is an insecticide derived from a bacterium and sold as Dipel, Bactur, Sok-Bt or Thuricide.
    http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/importcabbageworm.html
    http://www.myorganicflowers.com/bugs.htm
    Forum on using B.t.as a pesticide against caterpillars:
    http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/msg0517080013157.html

    You can prevent butterflies & moths from laying their eggs by using a fine mesh fabric or netting to cover vegetables. You can use mosquito netting, old window screens, tulle, or a nylon type of material which is hard to penetrate. Tulle fabric, which is used for bridal veils & party favors, can be bought in department stores, Wal Mart & craft stores.
    http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-tulle-netting.htm
    Fine mesh netting can make nice protective row covers like this:
    http://carletongarden.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
    http://www.pvcplans.com/RowCvr.pdf

    “Attract small insect-eating birds by providing safe nest sites and a constant supply of water. Insect predators of caterpillars include: assassin bugs; tachinid flies; paper wasps, which chew up caterpillars and feed them to their larvae; lacewings and ladybirds eat moth eggs; tiny trichogramma wasps parasitise moth eggs; other tiny wasps like Apanteles sp. parasitise the caterpillar.”
    http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/caterpillar_info.html

    In the future, consider companion planting. Sage (Salvia officinalis) planted with members of the cabbage family protects against Cabbage Moth, Flea Beetle, Slugs;
    Thyme protects cabbage against Cabbage Worm; Oregano, Hyssop & Mint protects against Cabbage Butterflies:
    http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/companion.htm

    Neem discourages caterpillars by making the plant unpalatable to them. You should read these articles thoroughly when trying to decide if you want to use it:
    http://www.indianscience.org/essays/t_es_agraw_neem.shtml
    http://www.regional.org.au/au/esa/2001/09/0902charleston.htm

    Since the nasty taste of Neem keeps the caterpillars from eating plants, some people make similar nasty-tasting sprays of hot pepper & garlic to do the same thing.
    On the forum linked below, one suggestion is a “neem/red pepper/bergamot/soap and water concoction”. Other suggestion are “don’t put catnip or lavender anywhere near members of the cabbage family. In fact, place them far away to lure moth and caterpillar pests away”… also “use wooden frames covered with fine mesh that the moths can’t get through during their egg laying season.”
    http://www.yougrowgirl.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6367
    Capital Community Garden’s ‘Garlic & Pepper Spray’ control uses 6 cloves of garlic, 1 Tbsp dried hot pepper, 1 minced onion, tsp pure soap (not detergent) mixed with 1 gallon hot water:
    http://www.cdcg.org/pests.html

    Common garden pests and how to recognize and control them:
    http://www.organicgardenpests.com/organicpestcontrol3.html

    Good luck!!! Hope this is helpful.

  2. Sevin is a chemical that I wouldn’t want to put on my veggies. Cabaryl (its chemical name) is listed as a class II moderate toxic and is notorious for killing homey bees and beneficial pests. Try Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Your nursery should be able to help you find a product with this ingredient. It is a natural ingredient, not harmful to humans, animals, birds or other beneficial insects. It is only good for caterpillars and caused them to stop feeding and die.

  3. Never, ever use Sevin. It can take out entire bee hives and you definitely don’t want that if you’re growing veggies. No bees to pollinate. But I agree with Angel, use B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis). That’s all you can really use against caterpillars and worms that isn’t a hazard. Soap is only good on soft bodied insects.

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