this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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I've certainly had plenty of these butterflies around my place. I'm hoping that there are enough predatory insects built up from snacking on my aphids that will cross over to butterfly larvae.

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[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use upland cress.

It's not the moth stage that fucks ya, it's the caterpillar. And they fuckin' looove upland cress. Kills 'em dead.

[–] RustyRaven@aussie.zone 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm going to try cress this year, but I believe it is only kill cabbage moth caterpillers, and what I am seeing are butterflies which it does not effect. (source)

It does still act as a trap crop, as they prefer it to other plants, but it won't kill them .

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 4 points 1 year ago

It most certainly does, i assure you.. Aside from the UoQ study, anecdotally i've used it with great success to reduce numbers. You just need to make sure you get Barbarea vulgaris.

Other repellents / predatory attractants work well in conjunction - alliums work quite well to mask, and anything that attracts predatory wasps is a banger. Neem it up if you have a bad infestation, eco garden sell a neem mix with predatory attractants iirc.

Moths aren't an issue beyond aesthetics, as i stated. It's the caterpillar stage that does the damage. But if you want to fuck off the moths they're very territorial and very stupid. Anything white and flappy can convince them they're on another moth's turf.

[–] melbaboutown@aussie.zone 2 points 1 year ago

I saw it said ladybugs can eat the caterpillars... you can buy those online

[–] melbaboutown@aussie.zone 1 points 1 year ago

Beat me to it. They're everywhere