Uptown Girl |
01-12-2013 08:24 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaPaLarry
(Post 607642)
Do you have problems with your Oleanders and caterpilars??? Seems like they just keep coming back after spraying!!
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There is a moth that uses Oleander as a host, laying it's eggs in clusters you can see on the underside of leaves. The caterpillars, once hatched can munch the plant pretty good. You can cut the leaves with eggs off, seal them tightly in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill the eggs. Then toss the bag in the garbage. Wear gloves - as sap can irritate the skin.
Some think that dwarf Oleanders (still pretty large) are less likely affected. I would plant those varieties.
The moth looks rather like a large, black and white polka dot wasp. You will see it in the daytime (it's not nocturnal) Caterpillars are orange w/ black hairs.
I'm told that giving the soil around the oleander a neem oil mixture drench about every two weeks (as a preventative) usually helps. ( I use it on a number of my plants) The eating cycle for these caterpillars lasts about 20 days a year.
The recommendation if you see caterpillars is to mix up a bucket of sudsy, soapy water and (with gloves) pluck them off and drown them. Actually more effective than chemical sprays.
If your oleanders are very tall, and you really want to spray, try a hose applicator that you can put lemon dish soap into and hit the underside of the leaves with a good blast. That will help until it rains again and the soap gets washed off.
P.S. Oleanders affected will not die from getting chewed. They live a long time.
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