Water lily pads being eaten, help.

[koiedge]

Hello All,

My water lilies are just coming out of their winter ponds and many of the leaves are being eaten up!

Closer inspection looks like a caterpillar, that lives in a leaf cocoon, is attached and eating the leaves.

Any thoughts on getting rid of these pests? With a fish safe solution.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Kat]

Sounds like you've got China Mark Moth.  See if you can find some BT at your hardware & you'll need a sprayer.  Spray either early morning or late evening so the pads don't get burned. 

http://www.victoria-adventure.org/waterlilies_images/caterpillars/page1.html

[enzo]

check for thuricide at home depot.

[Vickie]

I use Dipel powder and powder the leaves instead of spraying them. I get mine at earl May.

[bunny56lbc]

Here's ther web site where I buy BT :
http://www.mastergardening.com/dee-0096.html

bonnie

[enzo]

oh yes, dipel powder works well. I hadn't seen that one at the local home depot and lowes has nothing for caterpillars that isn't deadly to everything else.

[koiedge]

Thanks everyone. That like to victoria-adventures is EXACTLY what they are, "Taco Men". I have to laugh! 

I will go and pick up something to night to spray tomorrow morning.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Double S]

We call them "sandwich men" here.

I've never been able to find BT -- so I pay my DS to PICK them off.    

Get's money for each one he kills!

[joeyb5980]

Yep, I always just try to find them and squash em......They are really destructive in a small amount of time... Fortunately because my ponds are small, I notice them quickly and get them squashed before they spread too much.  I will keep the other advice in mind though in case I have a worse infestation in the future too...