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Caterpillars eat holes in the leaves of verbascums, buddleia and figwort. In severe cases, the plant's leaves are completely decimated.
The mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci, lays its eggs on verbascum, buddleia and figwort at the end of spring. Shortly after, from late spring to midsummer, the caterpillars demolish the foliage. Bad infestations can actually strip a plant. They then hide in the soil to pupate.
The bright yellow and black caterpillars are easy to spot as they crawl across the leaves, and can be picked off by hand.
The moment you spot an infestation, spray them with pyrethrum. If the plants are in flower, spray in the evening, so pollinating insects aren't affected.
Lovemoths 23/06/2012 at 09:52
The mullein moth is one of the ever decreasing number of British moths to be found in the wild. It is appalling to recommend the destruction of these caterpillars. I have observed moths for 50 years and I have seen my first mullein moth caterpillars this year. They are happily munching their way through a beautiful verbascum that I planted last year and I am so happy that they have chosen my garden to breed in. You should advise gardeners, and I am a gardener, that wildlife should be treasured and not eliminated. The moth may be seen as a pest in some areas but in other regions a garden may be its last hope of survival. I still use some chemicals in the garden but indescriminate use against creatures that are in decline is bad advice. Please show some balance where wildlife is concerned.
gardeningfantic 01/05/2013 at 08:44
i agree lovemoths.. there is no need to spray them.. i get them ever year as i love verbascums also.. so i just collect them all up and move them to three plants i planted in garden just for them, in with the veg bed.. so they cant harm the others in my front flower beds. i grow plants and flowers that encourage bees and butteflies and all manner of british wildlife into my garden.. as monty says there is always a way for both of us to be in our gardens together where we both benefit.. to see the spray that are killing our bees now being banned, to protect them, and then read this, its terrible. all wildlife should be supported in a way that helps both them and the gardener, the suggestion of total obliviation breaks my heart.
