Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Shop, cook, eat, drink, post, repeat.
 
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:04 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2012 11:20 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Each spring, when my bay trees put out their new leaves and try to grow up a bit, they get attacked by a small, green worm. This catepillar is around 1/4" to 1/2" inch long, translucent bright green, and forms little white webby cocoons around itself during the day, curling a leaf around to protect itself.

These worms are devastating my bay trees. They seem to only be able to eat the tender young leaves, but they eat all of those, preventing my bay trees from every growing.

What is this worm, and how do I fight it off? I've been googling hard to no avail.

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:18 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:41 pm
Posts: 1884
Location: Near Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I have no idea, but have you tried asking as a local garden centre? They may know.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 10:12 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:58 pm
Posts: 1206
I'll post this on a gardening site I go on every day, and see if anyone knows this thing. Meanwhile, you can make a good all around homemade organic bug spray by blending 2 cloves garlic, 2 cloves, 4 dried Thai or Chinese hot peppers, a 3" sprig of rosemary with 1 qt water for a couple of minutes, then strain through a fine filter. Then blend this 1 tb oil (neem oil, if you have some) with just enough dish detergent (pref. a no scent brand) to emulsify it. Then spray it all over the plant, and it should keep most things off, and kill what is on there. Hopefully, you'll only have to do this in the early spring, or you'll be getting other flavors with your bay leaves!

BTW, I got one response so far, and the guy suggested contacting your County Extension Agency, and that sometimes they can ID things like that over the phone; otherwise, take a sample in for them to ID. Maybe it's something common, that gets on other things, as well.

_________________
Dave


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Tue May 08, 2012 8:46 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:58 pm
Posts: 1206
Here's another response:

Pepperhead, that description sounds like the Leaf Roller caterpillar that we have here. When out of control, they can take down a cucurbit plant pretty quick. They are named leaf roller because they eat a while, then curl over a leaf with webbing and form a small brown cocoon to change.

I solved the problems I had with them by spraying BT. Took 2 years of somewhat regular spraying to really knock down the recurring population, but I haven't seen any this year yet.

You might have him look up Leaf Roller.

Hope this helps.

_________________
Dave


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 12:06 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Dave,

Yeah, I've been told BT by others; I guess I'll get some.

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 8:10 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:21 am
Posts: 1403
Location: Six Shooter Junction, Texas
Try burning sage under the tree... ;)

_________________
To do is to be [Descartes] To be is to do [Voltaire] Do be do be do [Sinatra].


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2012 11:17 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Frank,

Was that serious? Because I have a lot of sage ...

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:44 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:21 am
Posts: 1403
Location: Six Shooter Junction, Texas
When have you known me to be serious... :D :roll:

The birds might like them more with the added flavoring.

_________________
To do is to be [Descartes] To be is to do [Voltaire] Do be do be do [Sinatra].


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 11:40 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:35 am
Posts: 2305
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Uh, Frank, did it get a little crowded under the rock :?: :!: Y'ur mighty chatty as of late :o :shock: :lol:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: What's eating my bay trees?
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2012 11:54 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:21 am
Posts: 1403
Location: Six Shooter Junction, Texas
Fear not...I start traveling again next week.

_________________
To do is to be [Descartes] To be is to do [Voltaire] Do be do be do [Sinatra].


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Template made by DEVPPL/ThatBigForum