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- May 9, 2006
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- 1,980
Just noticed them on our giant sunflower plants today. Seem to be doing quit a bit of damage. I looked them up but cannot find a picture of the butterfly or moth. Any ideas?
I think you're right. Spray plants with nicotine solution (organic short lived poison). The caterpillars are very susceptible to it.They look like the caterpillars of the painted lady butterfly.
That is even better. Your real problem and enemy are mites. If infested they bore into the seed cases and you get a powdery mess instead of a seed.The caterpillars of the painted lady look a bit different than these. The ones on the plants are jet black with red. The flowers have already bloomed, just waiting for the season to finish up so I can cut the heads off and make some seeds, so I will keep them alive and update this thread with their progress!
Very good. You're correct.They look like the caterpillars of the painted lady butterfly.