Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Almost to small to see eating nastursiums . If they were easier to see I would pick them of. Any suggestions?

Could be Processionary Caterpillars!
DO NOT TOUCH

"They are VERY dangerous to pets. Our neighbours dog very nearly died a few days ago.
Had to go on a drip, and very poorly. Another half hour and he would have been dead"

See...
http://www.kibkomnorthcyprusforum.com/v ... rs#p145952

I gave up growing nasturtiums and dug them out in the UK because they appear to be a smoked salmon or caviare, followed by a nice juicy steak and strawberries and cream to caterpillars.... I assume the same applies here so I have never tried - in fact I cant recall every having seen them here!

Fairly sure not those as they come from nests in line trees and are brown and hairy. These are really tiny and green.

Sounds like cabbage white baby caterpillars to me, which arent dangerous except to plants, but do not rely on that, I am no expert As a start you could try spraying them with a soap solution which does not harm pets. Just put a tablespoon of plain(not perfumed) liquid soap (use washing up liquid if you cant find liquid soap) in a spray bottle with water , shake and spray affected plants. If it doesnt work the first time, try again with an increased amoiunt of soap.

Ragged Robin wrote:Sounds like cabbage white baby caterpillars to me, which arent dangerous except to plants, but do not rely on that, I am no expert As a start you could try spraying them with a soap solution which does not harm pets. Just put a tablespoon of plain(not perfumed) liquid soap (use washing up liquid if you cant find liquid soap) in a spray bottle with water , shake and spray affected plants. If it doesnt work the first time, try again with an increased amoiunt of soap.

Don't they turn into Butterflies?

I like Butterflies!

I plant flowers to attract them!

Perhaps it's my Butterfly caterpillars that are eating your nasturtiums

I suppose that I ought to say "Sorry!".

I'll have to think about that...

Keith: first just ask your caterpillars whether they intend to turn into butterflies or maybe moths, which will eat your clothes! And then make sure they are caterpillars and not the larva of sawflies , which look very similar. You can check this by counting their legs, that should keep you out of mischief for a while!!!!!

gilly: it sounds as if your caterpillars might be sawfly larva which apparently are tiny. If they are advice is to shake them off and drown in soapy water, so I was not far off.