Help! Caterpillars make a grown man cry!

MatthiaZ

Active Member
Had to chop 6 big kolas off today from poop and pee and mold ridden caterpillar damage. I found two small caterpillars but I suspect there’s more. So they favor one plant over the other? I sprayed BT but maybe not enough. Is it too late to spray now? Any thoughts and suggestions please. Outdoor sativa grow. Moved all my plants to a more visible location so I can cut out damage as soon as possible.
 

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compassionateExotic

Well-Known Member
Spray Suffoilx or mineral oil + bt, kills em and adults and also prevent of pm

suffoilx and bt can be applied to week before harvest np, just make sure if not suffoilx for mineral oil it’s just that and not a brand with other pesticides included that aren’t flowering approval
 

MatthiaZ

Active Member
How much for mix ratio? I purchased a couple already “to go BT sprays, they might have oil in them. Is there a technique for getting into the buds where they are? Stupid question but maybe someone has one…also I heard that the cabbage looper caterpillars that I have are florescent under UV light. So gonna buy a UV flashlight and go hunting. Bought a leaf blower for morning fog/dew drying as well.
 

MatthiaZ

Active Member
I cut out the rotten stuff/affected stuff & make hash form what is salvageable.
Put several ounces worth in the freezer today.

Good luck with the rest
Thanks man. Yeah I still have a couple pounds from last year! lol. I was spraying once a week…doing everything I could. If only I didn’t need to sleep. I need a GREENHOUSE F this Shite!
 

compassionateExotic

Well-Known Member
How much for mix ratio? I purchased a couple already “to go BT sprays, they might have oil in them. Is there a technique for getting into the buds where they are? Stupid question but maybe someone has one…also I heard that the cabbage looper caterpillars that I have are florescent under UV light. So gonna buy a UV flashlight and go hunting. Bought a leaf blower for morning fog/dew drying as well.
What is the brand
Url?
 

brogro

Well-Known Member
I spray BT with good results. I spray during early flower. I'm as guilty as you of neglect. When I'm lazy things can get out of hand. But when I'm on it I nip it in the bud so to speak. Crushing those fucking worms in my fingers.
 

DCcan

Well-Known Member
for me i suggest in future to buy diphel pro, cost effective and works great
The powdered DiPel and Xentari (Bt-k and Bt-a) have a longer shelf life than liquid formulations.
Mixed together, effective against a wider range of caterpillars and stem borers than just the Bt-k, such as cabbage loopers, diamondback moth, european corn borers. Xentari doesn't cover as broad a list as Dipel. Just use that if you pick one.
Work really well against young caterpillars, along with spinosad and plants innoculated with Botanigard (b.basianna) earlier in flower.
The Botanigard will also help fight off PM and botrysis, as well as infecting young caterpillars and insects.
(Concerve is spinosad)

 
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Grumpyy

Well-Known Member
Many have this experience. Lesson learned, hopefully. They are probably all in there and you just don’t see them. You can start to spray now, but you’re already going to suffer significant loss.

Next year, you will want to buy concentrated BT (because the stuff you bought is WAY overpriced, and sounds like it has additives). The only way to manage caterpillars is to get ahead of them.

They come EVERY year, and they hit early in flower right as things growing get exciting. Once they start chomping and pooping in your buds, you’re fXcked. You have to cut and trash all the affected parts. The only way to avoid crop destruction is to religiously spray BT according to label.

Next year, buy yourself Monterey BT concentrate before flower starts (it should have directions to mix 4tsp to a gallon, not be ready to spray). Then start spraying by week 3, or about when you start to see little buds form.

IF you mix it correctly, IF your concentrate is not old, and IF you use it early in flower according to label (every 5-7 days), then you will not have this problem again. Don’t forget the shelf life of BT is approximately 2 years. A 3 year old bottle will let you down!! Buy a nice weed sprayer from a home improvement store for application to make your life easier.
 

Spider-Man

Well-Known Member
I 20240916_193009.jpg20240910_191256.jpg20240907_101724.jpg20240907_101314.jpg20240907_100522.jpg20240907_100248.jpg20240907_100015.jpgam on top! For now.
What most of you are talking about. Are cabbage worms, cabbage Loopers and Diamondback caterpillars.
I have found that using a step ladder, to where you can get at your highest buds. Look down for a 1/16 inch diameter pinhole. It will usually have a couple turds or a little bit of brown around it. Put rubber gloves on peel the buds back and inspect the bud on the cola go between everyone of the buds. That's what you have to do, to look for them. Go to Amazon and buy a product called tulle. It's like a wedding veil material. I buy it by the roll 108 inches wide x 70 feet long. 38 dollars a roll. Sunlight goes through it.
I put it on at night time. And take it off in the morning. You have to always remember the Moths will always go to your biggest and tallest, sweetest buds first. This is your notice! Time to get the tulle. Time to make sure your other plants are all safe.
I only had one plant, remove 10 molded buds. Also probably 12 worms. I removed 10 tall buds. The rest of the plant are doing good. I have not had any sinse. Because the tulle will not allow the moth to land on your buds to lay eggs.
 

MatthiaZ

Active Member
I View attachment 5426810View attachment 5426811View attachment 5426812View attachment 5426813View attachment 5426814View attachment 5426815View attachment 5426816am on top! For now.
What most of you are talking about. Are cabbage worms, cabbage Loopers and Diamondback caterpillars.
I have found that using a step ladder, to where you can get at your highest buds. Look down for a 1/16 inch diameter pinhole. It will usually have a couple turds or a little bit of brown around it. Put rubber gloves on peel the buds back and inspect the bud on the cola go between everyone of the buds. That's what you have to do, to look for them. Go to Amazon and buy a product called tulle. It's like a wedding veil material. I buy it by the roll 108 inches wide x 70 feet long. 38 dollars a roll. Sunlight goes through it.
I put it on at night time. And take it off in the morning. You have to always remember the Moths will always go to your biggest and tallest, sweetest buds first. This is your notice! Time to get the tulle. Time to make sure your other plants are all safe.
I only had one plant, remove 10 molded buds. Also probably 12 worms. I removed 10 tall buds. The rest of the plant are doing good. I have not had any sinse. Because the tulle will not allow the moth to land on your buds to lay eggs.
I’ll spray and get the Tulle. I feel like it’s just my area too..it’s not just the caterpillars. This shit has happened to me every grow! Do you spray the area that you take the mold out with anything? I do apple cider vinegar and I don’t know for sure if it’s helping or not, too soon. I feel like the spores are so strong, I have to change my gloves every time I pick some off. It’s fuckin killing me! Like I said, I have a UV flashlight that will be here tomorrow, that’s supposed to make em fluorescent and easier to annihilate!
 
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