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Pest ID and solution

palmer_18palmer_18 Posts: 12
in Problem solving
I need some help with caterpillar id and solution please….

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is it laurel @palmer_18?  If so, it looks more like shot hole . 
    Have you seen caterpillars though?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    It looks as though this caterpillar is eating the leaves pansyface can you ID it?


    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • palmer_18palmer_18 Posts: 12
    As circled, there are plenty of these caterpillars on the plant which is Laurel. There Laurel is growing alongside rhododendron which isn’t affected. Lots of sticky residue on the leaves. I just don’t know which caterpillars they are and what the solution is. Hand picking seems unrealistic as it’s a large shrub.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think I'd just give it a good pruning ... that'll remove the unsightly leaves and rejuvenate the shrub without the need for any sprays etc.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • palmer_18palmer_18 Posts: 12
    Thanks 
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    I think it is better to just leave caterpillars that I see on shrubs for the small birds in the garden to have something to eat. As the small birds get used to there being something for them to pick off the shrubs the caterpillars become more difficult to find. Here is a clip showing a bunch I left on a young tree and the tree has continued to do well in the years since the leaves got a bit trimmed by the caterpillars.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Just prune it down to good growth. The birds won’t mind going without the caterpillars on one shrub. Prune it till it looks good to you and you’ll feel better ,it’ll soon grow back. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - just prune out the damaged bits. Laurel is tough. The sticky residue on your shrubs is probably from aphids.
    If you're growing lots of large shrubs close together, then airflow can often be a problem, which then leads to other problems - ie a lot of insect damage etc. If the laurel's huge, it would benefit from being cut right back anyway, and that will help generally.
    Laurel and rhodos both like plenty of water too, so if you're in drier area, that won't help their health either.
    No plant is perfect all the time, but there are things you can do to improve them.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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