Green worm in my iris buds!!

11 years ago

I had a couple iris buds not opening, and I thought it was, perhaps, frost damage, as we have had really bizarre weather - 80's (in NW IA) and then down in the 40's a few days later and then 27 for a low a couple of nights - while these were forming, but the others were coming out of it, and so I snapped one of the buds off as it seemed to be oozing a clear liquid out of it. I tore it open, and inside was a green caterpillar, and I double checked that is it NOT iris borer - it is as green as the leaves! And there were what appeared to be aphids, but are what I think could be larva - yellowish orange, and quite small. Any ideas? I'm just sick! These are my babies that I grew from a cross of Edith Wolford!

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Comments (3)

SirMatthew
Original Author
11 years ago
Ok, the damage was limited to ONE plant and the four buds on it. The others I saw no evidence. I have a 15x magnifier and gave them a good look-over. I THINK *THINK* it could be pieris rapae - cabbage worm - or pieris napi - mustard white butterfly, but, do worms normally attack iris flowers? This has been such an ODD year. I googled the green worms and searched through hundreds of green worms, then narrowed my search by the eggs to confirm. I just am confused. And SICK! I've attached a photo of the previous year's blooms and you'll see WHY!

Here is a link that might be useful:
Nancy
11 years ago
wish I could help, I've never had this happen & no advice. Pretty baby though, hope it stays limited to that one plant.
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gottagarden
11 years ago
iris bud fly. google it for more info