Saturday, September 6, 2008

Phryganidia californica

I know, it sounds bad, but it's just little 'caterpillas'.  They eat Quercus agrifolia, otherwise known as coast live oak.  We had an outbreak a few months ago and they were making pests of themselves by bungy jumping out of the trees onto us and our guests.  So I had 'em sprayed with an eco-friendly concoction made from rosemary and peppermint oil.  Smelled really good!  And works!  We are having another outbreak on some Quercus agrifolia that weren't sprayed the first time.  I wanted to get some o' dat good-smellin' stuff (Eco-trol) but it's too 'spensive, so I'm trying a different tactic: biological warfare.  Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki.  It's a little germ that dines on caterpillar juice, and is available at the local garden store.  We'll know if it works in a day or two. 

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