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Buddleia caterpillars

BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
in Problem solving
Making holes in my new plants 😡 what are they ? Kill or move them on
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  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    They are mullein moth caterpillars. You could kill them, but that would rather defeat the point of having a butterfly bush wouldnt it??

    Buddliea are tough plants and will quickly recover from any damaged leaves once the caterpillars have pupated
  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    They devastated one of my Buddliea's one year. I moved it into a full sun spot and have never had the problem repeated on any of the bushes in full sun.
    Hope that helps.
    Luv Dave
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Thank you for your replies. The buddleia has been planted for pollination for bees butterflies and others but not for eating so they have to go @Jellyfire I'm afraid. This one is in full size and others are in partial sun but it's the only one affected @dave125
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Are there any mature buddleia bushes around you that you could move them to? They'll nibble out the flower buds on a small bush which is more annoying than anything but a larger bush won't notice the harm. Often industrial site are covered in invasive buddleia so if you move them to one of those you'd be helping prevent the bushes spreading so much.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    If we want to preserve our native wildlife we need to remember that it is (or was) an ecosystem. Things interact, killing one part may kill another part.
    On the other hand Buddleia is getting bad press now. It used to be highly recommended as great for insects, now it's classed as an invasive alien (which it is)


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    Oh lord I've bought 7 invasive aliens 😂😂😂😂
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    BirminghamMarc1972 said:
    Oh lord I've bought 7 invasive aliens 😂😂😂😂
    :)
    Plenty of them here as well


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    edited May 2019
    Jellyfire said:
    They are mullein moth caterpillars. You could kill them, but that would rather defeat the point of having a butterfly bush wouldnt it??


    In the early days of Curmudgeons' Corner, I posted, "How can I attract more butterflies into my garden, and what's the best way to kill caterpillars?"  I was being satirical.  I never thought anyone would ask it for real.

    Excuse me while I hang out more bird feeders, I'm trying to save on catfood.
  • BrexiteerBrexiteer Posts: 955
    josusa47 said:
    There's a difference between attracting wildlife and supporting wildlife.  

    If you plant something that feeds flying insects, then destroy their young, you are merely attracting wildlife into your own space, presumably for your own entertainment, but hardly supporting them.  

    You might as well put up bird feeders and nest boxes to save on catfood.
    Get off my case please
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Josusa is right, 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
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