Caterpillars on dill plants

Again I am requesting your experienced answer concerning our garden. I have planted a lot of dill for canning but two days ago I discovered large (and some small) yellow and black striped caterpillars eating the stalks. What can I do to get rid of them. I hate using Seven but might have to. Also last year, our zucchini were destroyed by a dark bug that looked like older people called “blister” bugs. Not even insect killer like Seven seemed to faze them. Sure would like to get ahead of this then this year.

Claudine Norwood
Wagoner, Oklahoma

If you’ll either spray your dill with Bt (Dipel) or pyrethrins, it’ll take care of the little pests. Bt is a natural bacteria that kills caterpillars that eat green foliage and stems. It does not harm birds, good bugs, or you. Pythrethrins is also a natural insecticide and will take care of blister beetles, squash bugs, and many other garden pest insects without harming you, pets, or the environment. — Jackie

Fairs and Expos in the Midwest

I know there are a lot of fairs and expos for self reliance, mostly in the western states and east but why never in the middle states? In the West and East there are many self-reliance people with experience but in our area I can not find many. I would really like to see some fairs and expos in the
Oklahoma area. Do you see that ever happening? We really need the help here. I know there are people in Arkansas and Texas that would like help too.

Claudine N.
Wagoner, Oklahoma

There is going to be a huge expo in Dallas, Texas, at the end of July. (http://www.selfrelianceexpo.com/dallas/) I’m hoping you can come visit me at the BHM booth! — Jackie

6 COMMENTS

  1. We used to have the same caterpillars in my mom’s garden in Oklahoma City. They were Monarch caterpillars there, used to scare me when I was a little kid!

  2. All,

    Boy was I surprised to hear that! Just like when I found out that tomato hornworms were the larval form of hummingbird moths! Now I don’t squash them, either. Nor will I spray my dill and parsley for swallowtail butterfly larva. Good catch, guys. We learn until we die!!!

    Jackie

  3. Where are the sustainable living conferences in NY state? Thank God for Backwoods Home,and Jackie..Thanks for the good info and fun fellowship via the internet…MA

  4. If you can handle letting some of them live, they are swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, that pretty much only like dill, parsley, etc. They are beautiful – here is a link to some information:

    http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg266.html

    They will not be there too long, and if you will just plant a few extra dill/parsley plants for them you will be much rewarded!

  5. Plant even more dill and let the butterflies live their lifecycle! Not everything needs to die, just for our convenience.

    I plant dill and milkweed just to feed the butterflies!

  6. I get those caterpillars every year. They’re swallowtail butterfly caterpillars and they tend to be on dill and parsley. When I first got them a few years ago, I looked up what they were. I was very excited because I thought I’d be able to show my kids how caterpillars turn into butterflies. That didn’t last long because in a couple of days they were all gone — wasps ate them. I don’t bother to pick them off because once they’re big enought to be seen, predators get them. Plus, they don’t eat much anyway and if any did make it to the butterfly stage, butterflies are good pollinators. I just grow extra dill and parsley.

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