Garden

[nikkimom]

 I noticed a few of my plants that have been thriving and flowering so nice taking a turn So close investigation I now am battling w/ caterpillars ( huge, green gross ones that poop black pellets and are voracious eaters)and also aphids Any tips out there ?

[2blonde]

Ick.  My big rose bush has been hit hard with Japanese Beetles this year.  I haven't actually seen a lot of other bugs around here this summer......it's been very hot and dry.......so no mosquitos either.

[sweetee2]

    I would go to my local nursery and see what they say. That's a  ruff one. Good luck.

[ValuSkr]

Aphids can be sprayed off with a sharp stream of water.  As for the caterpillar, it would be nice to know what is is.   If it's a tomato hornworm, just throw them in soapy water to kill them.

[JustJazzmom]

Got a photo of the caterpillars? Many are plant host specific. What plants are they on?

[nikkimom]

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@JustJazzmom wrote:

Got a photo of the caterpillars? Many are plant host specific. What plants are they on?

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I should have done that - was busy picking them off. They were fat I think they tomato hornworms or very similar but they were not on a tomato plant. They were on a flowery vine tree  that has little white flowers on it. Not sure the name .

[Nataliesgramma]

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@2blonde wrote:

Ick.  My big rose bush has been hit hard with Japanese Beetles this year.  I haven't actually seen a lot of other bugs around here this summer......it's been very hot and dry.......so no mosquitos either.

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That is how it is here in my part of Ohio too...

[blankette]

LEAVE THEM ALONE, YES i SAID IT. aLL OF NATURE IS UNDER A HUGE ASSAULT RIGHT NOW, SOON THEY WILL ALL BE GONE OR EXTINCT IF WE DO NOT SPRAYING TOXIC POISON EVERYWHERE. IT IS AHUGE PROBLEM NOBODY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT. 

[labloverrr]

I agree, I have angel trumpet plants that white butterflies (think they're butterflies maybe moths??) they lay their eggs on them, when they hatch and the catepillars come they have a voracious appetite and just munch the heck out of that particular plants leaves.  I let nature do its course and leave them be.  They nibble on some of my other plants but something about the leaves of the angel trumpets they love :-) Somebody had posted that they aren't seeing Monarch butterflies yet, now that I think of it I haven't really seen many of the white butterflies, only a few so far.  I know they aren't around becuase my plants leaves are still intact.