Dill and Tarragon decimated!

skymahoney 9/2/2012, 4:16 pm

I have a pot on my patio with dill, tarragon, and a faltering scrap of thyme. It was fine two days ago. I looked at it today and it is decimated. Just the stems are left of all the plants. I found two pale, solid, green caterpillars. What are they, and what can I do so that I can grow these. I don't think these plants will make it (they were planted last week).

Thanks!

Sky

**camprn** 9/2/2012, 4:53 pm

I would guess that the plants may be stronger than you give them credit for. Wait a week and see if they put out any new foliage.

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skymahoney 9/2/2012, 5:18 pm

Thanks camprn. Do you have any idea what I can do about the caterpillars? Do you know what they might be?

**camprn** 9/2/2012, 5:52 pm

If they have eaten the foliage off the entire plant, my guess is that they have moved on to greener pastures. I cannot rightly say about the caterpillars until they are identified. could you post a photo?

sceleste54 9/2/2012, 6:58 pm

My old standby is Bacillus Thuringiensis
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html
This stuff works on any chewing caterpillar within just a couple of days, and will not harm anything else including bees and people. I mix some up in a hand held sprayer bottle like you use to mist houseplants and it really does the job !!

**camprn** 9/2/2012, 7:07 pm

it is quite possible they were a caterpillar of a desirable species, like a pollinating butterfly. Before pulling out the insecticide, you may want to ID the creature. Just my 2¢.

**walshevak** 9/2/2012, 9:26 pm

sceleste54 wrote:My old standby is Bacillus Thuringiensis
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html
This stuff works on any chewing caterpillar within just a couple of days, and will not harm anything else including bees and people. I mix some up in a hand held sprayer bottle like you use to mist houseplants and it really does the job !!

+1

Kay

skymahoney 9/2/2012, 10:57 pm

thanks, I'd rather not use an insecticide if possible. I would like to grow dill though. Smile

I tossed them off the patio so I can't get a picture, but if I see some more, I'll snap one. It'd be great if the plants will regrow..

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