Author:
Monica Porter
Date Of Creation:
21 March 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Moths are the larvae of butterflies and moths. They are easy to recognize thanks to their soft worms. Caterpillars come in many different colors and sizes, but they all harm plants. When you know what you're dealing with, it's easier to get rid of them. Caterpillars are most common in the fall, but you can find them any season of the year when the weather is warm. If you're looking to deal with caterpillars, try using some natural solutions. If that doesn't work, you can use soap or other remedies to get rid of the moth.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use natural solutions
Try Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (BTk). BTk is a bacteria that occurs naturally on rotting or dead matter in the soil. This type of bacteria is effective in controlling moths because they interact badly with the moth's digestive system. Furthermore, this preparation is also considered safe because it is not harmful to pets and humans; Dead moths also don't harm other animals (such as birds) when they eat the carcasses.
- It is important that you use BTk on infested plants at the right time for the caterpillars to eat. You should use it according to the instructions on the product, but in general it is necessary to repeat it twice. The first time is 10 days after hatching and the second two weeks later, when the caterpillar is still young.
- BTk is available in the market. This can be purchased at any gardening store. This product is usually powdered, then mixed with water and sprayed on the infested plant.
Attract birds into the garden. Birds are probably the best way to naturally control caterpillars. So, it's a good idea to make your garden appealing to birds. Try setting up a bird bath, a few bird feeders and even a birdhouse or two in the garden to lure them in.- If you have cats and they are in the yard, put a bell on your cat. This way the birds will be alerted each time the cat approaches.
- If you have room, you can keep chickens to kill the caterpillars. The chickens will eat the caterpillars, and you won't have to worry about dealing with them yourself. However, you will need to prepare your yard to keep the chickens healthy and safe, so this may not be a quick and easy solution.
Use a sack to catch moths that live on woody plants. If there are caterpillars on a tree, you can wrap it around the trunk with a sack. Moths love to hide from the heat during the day, and sacks are ideal places to stay out of the sun. Once the caterpillar crawls into the sack, you can crush several at once.- This can be very effective against the gypsy moth, which normally lives on trees.
Drowning moths. If you are not afraid of touching moths, this is one way to kill them without having to spray chemicals or other substances on the leaves.- Half fill the bucket with water. The bucket is large or small depending on the number of caterpillars to be disposed of. If there are only a few caterpillars, a can of coffee is enough. If you have a lot of caterpillars, you may need a 20 liter bucket.
- Mix soap into the bucket of water. If you are using a relatively small size bucket, ¼ cup of soap will suffice. Increase the amount of soap if you use a larger bucket. This is not a scientific project, so don't worry about measuring it accurately.
- Catch the moths and throw them in the water and they will drown. Wear gloves if needed.
Catch moths and bring them elsewhere. The caterpillars will eventually turn into butterflies and moths, insects that play an important role in pollination. For that reason, you should consider taking the caterpillars away (like a nearby forest) so they live there without harming your plants.
- You can do this by placing the caterpillar in a bucket or jar. Take them to your chosen location and gently pour them over the leaves or twigs.
Method 2 of 3: Use soap, pesticides, and other remedies
Try pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are natural insecticides made from plants, especially chrysanthemums. This is toxic to many pests, including moths. In general, pyrethrins are safe for humans and pets but can cause poisoning if swallowed in large quantities. This product is often available at garden supply stores. The spray is applied directly to the infested plant and will decompose within a few days in sunlight.
- If you go shopping for the pesticide pyrethrin, you may come across products that contain “pyrethroids,” which are simply synthetic versions of pyrethrum.
- You can protect beneficial pests from the drug by spraying them on infected plants early in the morning, then covering them with old cloth for 24 hours.
Make a spray of insecticide soap. This medication can be sprayed directly onto the moth. The drug works to destroy the moth's skin layer. You only need to mix 2 tablespoons of soap with 1 liter of water in a spray bottle. Shake it well and spray it directly on any found caterpillars.
- Be sure to use bio-soaps and plant-based soaps to avoid harming plants, animals and beneficial insects.
Buy a commercial pesticide. This should only be used as a last resort due to the toxic effects of the insecticide on the environment and beneficial insects, but if you have to use a pesticide, you will need to choose a insecticide. You can find all the information on the product label.
- Note that pesticides can harm children and pets when exposed.
- You should not use an insecticide in a garden that has crops to eat.
Method 3 of 3: Control garden moths
Plant some plants that attract beneficial insects into your garden. Flowering plants such as heather, hay, or cilantro, can attract beneficial insects (insects that feed on other insects) that kill moths. Plant these plants throughout the season to keep these insects in check.
- These plants will provide an alternative food source for beneficial insects and encourage them to return even after they have dealt with the caterpillars.
Use an insect net. An insect net is a fabric that covers plants. This fabric will prevent butterflies and moths from laying eggs on the plants and from hatching into caterpillars.
- This way is very suitable for autumn vegetables. In this case, the pollination is not that important, so the amount of vegetables grown will not decrease because the plant is shielded.
Identify caterpillars. Caterpillars come in many different sizes and shapes. Some are large, some are small, some are hairy, and some are worm-like. If you can't see the caterpillar but notice the leaves have holes in them, it's most likely a caterpillar somewhere in the garden.
- Most moth species can be treated with one of the methods above. The long-haired moth usually lives on trees in their webs. You can control this caterpillar with the same methods, but you can also remove branches with deep nests and burn them.
- Although caterpillars are usually harmless to humans and cannot be bitten, many species of caterpillars can be quite painful. The many species of caterpillars that are stung are of very different shapes; therefore, you should assume that any hairy or thorn moth will sting when you touch it. The sting of a caterpillar is not fatal but can be very painful, so it's best to avoid touching the caterpillar if you are unsure what it is.
Advice
- In the early spring and summer, yellow bees also use caterpillars as a food source for young bees.
- A few moths in the garden won't do much damage to the plants, you can consider leaving them alone.
- All moths are particularly fond of a particular plant. Identifying a plant being eaten by a caterpillar can help you identify the type of moth you are dealing with.
Warning
- Do not touch moths that are hairy or spiked as they may sting.
