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Green caterpillars

patzzpatzz Posts: 54

Good evening everyone, does anyone know what the green catty is, that is scoffing my Iris Stylosa and my polyanthus ? It is deep green and mid size for a caterpillar. With a very large appetite!!!

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  • Quite a few species can overwinter - they eat when it's warm and just curl up under leaves when it gets cold.  Any chance of a photo?

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • patzzpatzz Posts: 54

    Hi Bob, Have not taken pic as yet. Just removed to a different spot. They are hard to spot as they mimic the exact green they are eating. Hope everyone escaped too much damage to their gardens. I,m in Cambridgeshire and have been very lucky.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I found a beauty inside one of my Helleborus niger flowers. As it's the first time I've ever got these to re-flower I moved the caterpillar to a H. orientalis flower, I felt I could spare one of those. I should have taken its photo and IDd it but I didn'timage

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • patzzpatzz Posts: 54

    My camera is at the ready should one hungry caterpillar climb up and chomp my prized I.unguicularis bloom

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I've just had a look at my Iris unguicularis. Lots of healthy looking leaves, where are my flowers? I wonder if it's anything to do with being walked on and the Sadolins wood treatment it got last summer.

    No, I didn't go outside, I can see from a window



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • patzzpatzz Posts: 54

    Hi nutcutlet, up until the dreaded green cattys I had the best display of said Iris ever. Buds still coming up in abundance BUT somewhere lurking in the leafage is the enemy.

    No I,m not going outside either. Been out once to retrieve whopping great tarpaulin wrapped around my Acer. Enough. And it,s perishing.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I have to preserve my caterpillars, I just redirect them. I need to see all the moths and butterflies next year. I wonder when these pupate.

    I'm not far from you I think, near Peterborough

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • patzzpatzz Posts: 54

    Yes we,re in the same area. I,m between Peterboro and Cambridge. I don,t kill anything either but I do transport them. Having a drop of rain now, just for a change !!!!

  • Have you looked up the angle shades moth caterpillar? I have lots of caterpillars of this moth which are very active at the moment and seem to munch anything. Not good for your plants, but a lovely moth. I have left mine to nibble away.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I'll check those out MM, we had the moths in summer



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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