Caterpillars destroying my weeping willow

catman

Not sure if this post should be in this section really considering caterpillars turn into lovely butterflies but I've just returned after the weekend and found about half the leaves on my new weeping willow eaten by caterpillars. I removed all the ones I could find but not sure if I got them all. What is the best defence against caterpillars to prevent it happening again and to make sure I have got them all?

michael brenock · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject:

Shake the tree vigorously or turn the water hose on them. The tree will recover i feel sure.
michael brenock Horticultural advisor (retired)

verge · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

Were they sawfly caterpillars catman? Lots of talk about them on here. This is one such thread with a pic of the buggers Is this a sawfly larva?

catman · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

thanks Michael and Verge. Its not Sawfly Larvae, at least it doesn't look like the picture. I tried to take a pic of them yesterday evening but I couldn't find my camera anywhere. They are a bright yellow green colour with a few black dotted lines along them and a big black head.
Is there anyway to keep them of the plant long term? I did as you said and shook the bejaysus out of the tree then gave it a terrible going over with the strongest setting on the hose but when I went out to check this morning I still found two more. I suppose I'll just have to keep a vigilant eye and pick them off as I find them.