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eco_girl
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 8
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars - Kill or Keep? |
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| I have about 6 giant swallowtail butterfly caterpillars on my small orange tree and they are eating all of the new leaves. Should I kill them, or let them be? I love butterflies, but don't want them killing my tree. :? |
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sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 1079
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you have any italian parsley? If so you can move them that and they'll eat until ready to form the chrysallis. |
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eco_girl
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 8
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I do, but the plant is very small and I don't think they would survive on it. |
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sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 1079
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| well, I feel your pain. I personally don't think they'll kill the tree. Are they pretty large already? If so, they may be a few days away from leaving to find a place to adhere to. If they're still pretty small you may have a week or 2 to deal with them. |
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squid
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Location: Abilene,TEXAS
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| Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| go to Lowes or Home Depot, buy up all of their left over fennel and move them to it. My fennel is still covered in catepillars...... |
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