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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: SnooziSuzi on August 07, 2007, 14:49:46

Title: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: SnooziSuzi on August 07, 2007, 14:49:46
I have lots of little green balls at the bottom of my cabage and sprouts leaves and I wondered if this could be chewed up cabbage and sprouts or caterpillar poo? 

They are quite big, as small balls go.  I'd say they are about 2-3mm across. They roll around quite easily when I'm rummaging for caterpillars.  Am posting this from work so can't post a pic,  but I will try to when I get that sorted out.

I do find the occasional caterpillar on the plants, but soon dispatch these by chucking them on the shed roof for the birds to get!

Has anyone else seen these and knows what they are?
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: froglets on August 07, 2007, 14:53:59
sounds like caterpillar poo to me - usually a signal to go looking for the little swines.

Cheers
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: prink13 on August 07, 2007, 17:12:52
I really don't know if it's caterpillar poo or not - but on what other forum would you get a thread title like this one!!! ;D ;D ;D

Kathi
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: asbean on August 07, 2007, 17:19:09
Never thought about it before, but I suppose it makes sense - it has to come out the other end somehow  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: valmarg on August 07, 2007, 19:03:40
Sounds even more like caterpillar crap to me.  If they are on brassicas, the will almost certainly be the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly.  Hairy, black and yellow striped.

You can chuck them were you like, but there is not a bird that will eat them, if they are cabbage white caterpillars.  Better to use finger and thumb and squish them.

valmarg
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: debster on August 07, 2007, 20:48:07
i thinks its capterpillar poo too

one question if the black and yellow striped caterpillar is a cabbage white in the making what are the green ones, unless they are black and yello babies?
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: tim on August 07, 2007, 20:52:55
Different - & cleverly disguised until you cook them & vegetarian Daughter gets a yellow thing on her plate!!
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: SnooziSuzi on August 07, 2007, 22:30:08
Quote from: valmarg on August 07, 2007, 19:03:40
Sounds even more like caterpillar crap to me.  If they are on brassicas, the will almost certainly be the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly.  Hairy, black and yellow striped.

Thanks all.  I do go on regular catapillar patrol as opposed to spraying, but have only found inch long light green ones, none of them have been hairy...  have just done a quick google and the one's on my brassica's are deffinately cabbage whites.

didn't know birds wouldn't eat them tho' - you learn something new every day on this forum!
Title: Re: Caterpillar Poo?
Post by: valmarg on August 07, 2007, 23:05:35
Quote from: SnooziSuzi on August 07, 2007, 22:30:08
[didn't know birds wouldn't eat them tho' - you learn something new every day on this forum!

Snoozi, it's something to do with the hairiness, and the very concentrated 'cabbage' taste that makes birds leave them alone.

The best method of control (we don't like spraying anything we eat with anything) is finger and thumb squishing.

valmarg