I have been plagued by these all winter, the cold weather didn't kill them . Sometimes the caterpillars are lime green and very fat . Very difficult to see them hiding in the leaves. I go out as often as possible and check each primrose/ primula otherwise they would devour the flowers .
Hi Jinky ... thanks so much - that is very interesting and informative. They are definitely eating the flowers whilst unopened! The one I photographed moved v fast so I'm guessing that they charge around at night. I wonder if they would return to the primulas if I moved them somewhere else (like snails do!!).
Hi Sooty5 ... I guess we didn't have much cold weather! I think I'm going to be on the night watch now.
The mild winter has certainly meant that many bugs have survived the winter, or continued chomping on plants, when they would previously have not been a problem at this time of year. I'm not sure that going out at night to pick them off is very practical. Wandering around in the dark with a torch and then going in search of nettles or brambles is more likely to get you arrested these days!
I've recently put some primulas out in pots so I'll have to keep a close eye for them. Any I do catch will certainly become bird food.
I've had these exact caterpillars all over my heuchuras eating them to the point of there being no leaves left! I don't care how pretty the moth is, I take great delight in squishing them as I find them and no, the winter didn't kill them in my garden either I've also had them at the primroses and polyanthus eating the petals and leaves. If anyone knows a better way of dealing with them than just squishing them as you find them I'd love to hear it....please!
Posts
I have been plagued by these all winter, the cold weather didn't kill them . Sometimes the caterpillars are lime green and very fat . Very difficult to see them hiding in the leaves. I go out as often as possible and check each primrose/ primula otherwise they would devour the flowers .
Hi Jinky ... thanks so much - that is very interesting and informative.
They are definitely eating the flowers whilst unopened! The one I photographed moved v fast so I'm guessing that they charge around at night. I wonder if they would return to the primulas if I moved them somewhere else (like snails do!!).
Hi Sooty5 ... I guess we didn't have much cold weather! I think I'm going to be on the night watch now.
Thanks both for your help.
The mild winter has certainly meant that many bugs have survived the winter, or continued chomping on plants, when they would previously have not been a problem at this time of year. I'm not sure that going out at night to pick them off is very practical. Wandering around in the dark with a torch and then going in search of nettles or brambles is more likely to get you arrested these days!
I've recently put some primulas out in pots so I'll have to keep a close eye for them. Any I do catch will certainly become bird food.
I've had these exact caterpillars all over my heuchuras eating them to the point of there being no leaves left! I don't care how pretty the moth is, I take great delight in squishing them as I find them and no, the winter didn't kill them in my garden either
I've also had them at the primroses and polyanthus eating the petals and leaves. If anyone knows a better way of dealing with them than just squishing them as you find them I'd love to hear it....please!