Aren't caterpillars supposed to have turned into butterflies by now?
A few in my garden seem not to have realised this - or perhaps they're just too busy eating their way through my Cavolo Nero leaves.
Any that are on the Linaria/toadflax, as in the photo, are allowed to live on. I'm secretly hoping that they're busy munching on the seeds that turn into a gazillion plantlets for me to weed out throughout the year.
Anyone else still spotting caterpillars or other anomalies in the garden?
I thought my brassicas would be safe by now but perhaps I'm wrong.
Please feel free to correct me.
No brassicas to be un-safe, thanks to seed sowing failures, but I am still seeing caterpillars around. Perhaps because it is finally warm?!
ReplyDeleteTemps have been fairly constant here in London, Janet, despite rain and grey skies but it is getting colder at night so perhaps they're coming out in the day to eat. Btw, where DO caterpillars go at night? There are way too many scary spiders out there!
DeleteI have seen very few caterpillars in my garden this year - because there have been few butterflies about. Almost no Peacocks or Commas, no Red Admirals, and even few Cabbage Whites.
ReplyDeleteI've had a fairly constant presence of Cabbage Whites here, Mark. Not surprising as one of my neighbours has taken over a couple of large borders for a cabbage monoculture! I was hoping all the cabbage whites would go to his veg for their egg laying but it seems the other cabbages lured the butterflies in, then they dined on my brussels and kales!
DeleteI took the netting off the brassicas in September last year and regretted it. Resist the urge!!
ReplyDeleteStupidly, I didn't net my brassicas this year. I've learned my lesson.
DeleteWonderful picture. I think that's a moth larva. Some butterflies and months are still around in October so it's not surprising to see caterpillars now.
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you, Flighty. That sounds more like it. And, yes, I'm still seeing Cabbage Whites fluttering around on a warm day. It's rather nice, actually.
DeleteMy nasturtiums are still covered in cabbage white caterpillars and one or two of them are making their way up our sunroom windows to cocoon under the eaves!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I didn't think to check my nasturtium flowers! They're fairly low growing but so abundant that the caterpillars are probably there too. A few nasturtiums are still covered in blackfly aphids - I thought they were supposed to vanish later in the year too!
DeleteWe still have caterpillars in the garden too, they are all over our stocks. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI'm now thinking that I must have still had caterpillars in Autumn last year too, Sarah. It must be the warmth down south here in the UK. I shall console myself that they turn into lovely butterflies and add to the rich tapestry of the garden. Caro xx
DeleteI wouldn't;t know the difference between a butterfly caterpillar and say a white cabbage moth caterpillar. i'd squash them all! now you have me worried, caro, that i'm squashing the good guys!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great pic! I've noticed a fair few caterpillars about too! The climate is so odd these days, it must be confusing.xxx
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