Anyone need some caterpillars? we have 84 and only 16 plants. not sure if they are all going to make it. Mairehau, CHCH.
schnauzer11,
Jan 20, 3:54pm
Next year-cull some eggs!
steptoesnr,
Jan 20, 4:32pm
Cut a pumpkin open and put the caterpillars to work-they will thrive!
cantabman1,
Jan 20, 7:14pm
will thrive, but not go into a cocoon.
yjeva,
Jan 20, 7:26pm
They may even go into a chrysalis but they will come out deformed if they are fed only pumpkin. It is useful as a stopgap until you can find some more swan plants but it does not give them what they need to develop properly.
thea4,
Jan 20, 10:46pm
I have heard they will eat the leaves of the moth plant, is this true and do they still siccessfully hatch?
maclad,
Jan 20, 10:55pm
Agree pumpkin is not the thing to feed them even tho they will eat it. Not sure here, guessing, but you could try them on any of the milky sap producing plants and see how they go. Next season cull the eggs so you have enough food for what "pillars you may have.
lemming2,
Jan 22, 1:57am
Better than with pumpkin.
poppy500,
Jan 23, 12:48pm
Plants 2 for $8 at Mitre 10 up here Ring daycare centers and ask them, I trans located a whole lot of caterpillars to daycare after running out of swan plant
yjeva,
Jan 24, 6:28pm
Yes they can survive on the moth plant but it is a noxious weed so don't let your council see it.
..pip..,
Jan 25, 1:13pm
If the caterpillars are large they WILL survive and pupate properly on pumpkin, but the smaller ones are not as successful. Better to give them pumpkin and give them a chance than do nothing though.
jacquie38,
Aug 29, 2:49pm
Bunnings at Tower Junction have large plants under $4.00 each
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