Fighting Outdoor Caterpillars

[geologic]

My most problematic worm-producing Lepidoptera here
are skippers (3 species) and cabbage butterflies (3 species),
both are checking-out the garden now;
but I won't spray 'till I see the first tiny new hatchling,
basking in the morning sun--
not hungry, having just consumed it's egg case...

============================================

I alternate because I don't want anything to build resistance.

How does that work here???
If the worms eat Bt or Spinosid they die, right???
I thought immunity is passed-on by the parents,
but none of the adults came from here;
they're all from someplace else,
all the larvae are eradicated here each year--
I'm confused <per usual Heh>...

 

[fishwhistle]

Was at a friends outdoor grow a few days back and he was using a shopvac with the crevice tool attachment to suck any budworms off his outdoor plants,it worked like a charm,much easier than picking them off. The BT takes a few days to work and he uses the vacume to get all the ones he can see/find.Just thought id throw this into this thread as ive spent hours in days past trying to pick them off with a shish kebab skewer.@caregiverken good to see you around again,seems alot of people have deserted us for IG,lol.

 

[Seamaiden]

How does that work here???
If the worms eat Bt or Spinosid they die, right???
I thought immunity is passed-on by the parents,
but none of the adults came from here;
they're all from someplace else,
all the larvae are eradicated here each year--
I'm confused <per usual Heh>...

I began alternating when Bt corn came out. I don't know for a fact that all bugulars that consume the Bt and/or spinosad will die from it, some may only get partially exposed and still live, which is the mechanism that leads to resistance, yes? I do my best to ensure full coverage, but I cannot guarantee it. So, I alternate.

 

[geologic]

I've never found any large(r) ones after spraying,
just small new hachlings starting 5-7 <whatever> days later.

Possibly some adults could show-up that were raised on Bt corn,
but if their larvae have built-up an immunity,
the Bt wouldn't work on 'em here;
and I'd see larger ones with the new hatches--
yes, no, maybe???...

 

[ncga]

Also I put out traps to detect the adults. So far so good but its on my Calendar to spray next week. Its also the time to make sure your RAt traps are out. Make sure you put a screw eye and tie it to something. Otherwise you find you traps missing. BTW a rat trap will catch a mouse but mouse trap will not cat a rat