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What is eating my Ceanothus?
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Posted by asonnenshine (My Page) on Mon, Oct 19, 09 at 18:18
I planted two Ceanothus (Yankee Point) last December. They were growing well until this summer when some insect started eating almost all the leaves. I inspected the plant and noticed a few small spider webs (I think). None of the other plants around seem to be affected (Salvias, Monkey Flowers, Coyote Brush)
Does anyone know what this is and how to prevent it? I only want to use an "organic" method (no insecticides).
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What is eating my Ceanothus?
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| I know it's been awhile since you posted this so I hope you or someone sees this.I'm just guessing but I know that some saturnid moth caterpillers feed on ceonothus.They are those big,beautiful moths like the cecropia.It would seem plausable since so much of the leaves are being eaten.These moths are becoming endangered and I would consider it a blessing that they chose your bush as a host plant.What you could do is get a guide and try to identify the caterpiller and then find out what other plants it feeds on.Butterfly and moth larva feed only on certain types of plants.Find an alternative host plant growing in the wild and move the caterpiller to that plant.You will be preserving a beautiful endangered creature.I've rescued these caterpillers and put them on my bushes on purpose.They eat a lot of leaves;but the plants always recover. |
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