Moth caterpillars - pretend I'm a bitch

The caterpillars of this pest are illegible in food, damage all fruit trees and are found everywhere. First, holes in the kidneys gnaw out, then they are taken for leaves, buds and flowers, fastening them with cobwebs. Adult caterpillars eat whole leaves, leaving only the main veins. If you still do not understand what kind of pest we are talking about, let’s tell you about the moth.

Moths, or surveyors (Geometridae) Is a very large family of butterflies. More than 23,000 species are known (of which about 800 are European) from 2,000 genera. The caterpillars of many moths eat different household plants, harm forests and orchards.

Description of the Moths

Moths are nocturnal moths with a wingspan of up to 50 mm of various colors and patterns. At rest, the wings are roof-shaped.

The caterpillars of moths up to 65 mm long are always naked (without hairs on the body), have three pairs of pectoral legs and only two pairs of abdominal legs. That is why when moving, they are forced to pull the back of the body to the front, arching the back very much, as if measuring the surface with spans. Now it’s clear where their name comes from.

Another characteristic feature is that, in case of danger, the caterpillars adopt a pose copying a knot, stem, or part of a leaf.

Either winter eggs on the cortex of thin apical shoots, usually at the base of the buds (winter moth, peeled moth, greenish moth, bird cherry tree), or pupae between leaves on the soil surface (moth flower, fruit, whole, birch, silkworm).

In pests wintering in the egg stage, the caterpillars hatch very early - in the phase of the green cone in the apple tree. Moths pupate in the topsoil immediately after flowering. Butterflies fly out only in the fall (in September-October).

In species wintering in the pupal stage, butterflies hatch in May, which lay their eggs. Caterpillars eat the leaves throughout the summer and go to winter in early autumn.

Females of some species of moths have underdeveloped wings and are unable to fly. Hatching from pupae located in the upper layer of soil, for laying eggs, they climb into the crown of trees at their boles.

Prevention and protection of the garden from moths

Against moths, the females of which have underdeveloped wings, use glue trapping belts. Apply them in early spring on the lower part of the stem (against the spring, elm, gray moths) or in mid-September on the upper part of the stem (against the winter moth and moth-peeled).

Late in the autumn, dig the soil in near-stem circles or stripes.

Infusions, biologics and insecticides can be used if necessary in the same way as when protecting against leafworm caterpillars.

Watch the video: OASIS - four (January 2021).