AusBonsai

Found this "thing" on my litle Oak today, anyone know if it is friend or foe?

I don't recognise the species but assume that it has just shed its skin in order to grow a little larger. I believe that most caterpillars eat the skin afterwards so the nutrients it contains are reused- waste not want not

Caterpillars feed on leaves so if it is not eating the leaves of the oak it will be feeding on something close by.

Thanks Shibui ... so, foe? It must go!

Also, caterpillars don't mate.

I've recently noticed catippilers attacking my trees, from maples, roses and even natives. I had a rose just about to bloom only to have a catippiler eat it just before blooming . Any recommendations on what insecticide to use.
Thanks

The safest insecticide for caterpillars is Dipel. It is a naturally occurring fungus that only kills caterpillars so safe for all other insects, birds, mammals, etc. Spray it on the leaves so that the caterpillars eat it when they feed.
Next is pyrethrum/ pyrethrin which have low toxicity and break down naturally. It will kill all insects, good and bad and may even harm larger creatures if they get enough.
Lots of others that are more toxic to other insects like bees and probably to other non target creatures.

shibui wrote:The safest insecticide for caterpillars is Dipel. It is a naturally occurring fungus that only kills caterpillars so safe for all other insects, birds, mammals, etc. Spray it on the leaves so that the caterpillars eat it when they feed.
Next is pyrethrum/ pyrethrin which have low toxicity and break down naturally. It will kill all insects, good and bad and may even harm larger creatures if they get enough.
Lots of others that are more toxic to other insects like bees and probably to other non target creatures.

Real men only use the deadly poison.

shibui wrote:The safest insecticide for caterpillars is Dipel. It is a naturally occurring fungus that only kills caterpillars so safe for all other insects, birds, mammals, etc. Spray it on the leaves so that the caterpillars eat it when they feed.
Next is pyrethrum/ pyrethrin which have low toxicity and break down naturally. It will kill all insects, good and bad and may even harm larger creatures if they get enough.
Lots of others that are more toxic to other insects like bees and probably to other non target creatures.

Thanks Neil

shibui wrote:The safest insecticide for caterpillars is Dipel. It is a naturally occurring fungus that only kills caterpillars so safe for all other insects, birds, mammals, etc. Spray it on the leaves so that the caterpillars eat it when they feed.
Next is pyrethrum/ pyrethrin which have low toxicity and break down naturally. It will kill all insects, good and bad and may even harm larger creatures if they get enough.
Lots of others that are more toxic to other insects like bees and probably to other non target creatures.

"Real men only use the deadly poison."

Is that why there are no REAL MEN left.