I've got some garden pests I need to identify. They are small black caterpillar type insects that congregate in excess of 50+ and systematically eat a plant one leaf at a time. After the fact, there is a skeleton of the previous leaf structure remaining. If it's any help I live in Texas. I'd like to use a homemade organic deterrent, rather than a broad based insecticide. Therefore, identification is kind of important.
2007-10-11 18:21:44 · 4 answers · asked by stimpy 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Could well be a species of Black sawfly larvae..'.Pyrethrum 'should do the job...soap and garlic spray otherwise I guess.
2007-10-11 20:03:50 · answer #1 · answered by kit walker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most insects and especially larve have specific tastes you don't say what they are eating.
I have provided some links with photos to help you find it.
INSECTS THAT EAT FOLIAGE AND/OR FRUITS OF PLANTS LEAVING VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE
http://entowww.tamu.edu/extension/answers/identify/chew/chewing.html
http://www.insectscience.org/6.09/
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Below is probably the best place to look you'll have to navigate the links for photos.
Texas A&M University Department of Entomology
Insect Answers
Insect Help Publications
Common Texas Insects
Insect Identification
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/insctans/
Common Texas Insects
http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/index.cfm
click on photo
http://insects.tamu.edu/imagegallery/
2007-10-11 20:59:12 · answer #2 · answered by LucySD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've got them too. The egg mass looks like blue-grey mold. Easy to smash and smear with your nekkid hands. Hatch is very small, ditto easy to smash. Little buggars!
2007-10-11 22:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by reynwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
their invading and infesting your garden
you'll want to get rid of them before they get rid of you
2007-10-11 18:24:02 · answer #4 · answered by Open Minded Fool 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋