Their existence is fleeting. They either get snatched up as a source of food or they focus on their own sustenance before their great transformation. But even as they mind their own business, they might find themselves involved in yours. When this happens, you should know what to do. Discover how to get rid of caterpillars — both the ones you find inside your house and the ones crawling around your garden outdoors!
What are Caterpillars?
Caterpillars belong to the Lepidoptera family. They are the larva stage of butterflies and moths, and they come in different sizes, colors, and shapes. They vary by species. As they grow, they first undergo a metamorphosis and later they go through the main transformation, becoming beautiful butterflies or moths as adults. Caterpillars are interesting creatures to observe considering what they transform into. But it’s important to know that they also play a major role in the ecosystem even if they don’t get a chance to transform as they are a source of food for birds, insects, and other mammals.
Caterpillars either become sustenance for other animals or eventually transform into moths or butterflies.
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How to Know If You Have Caterpillars
If you find chewed leaves on indoor plants, that could be an indication that there are some caterpillars in your house. These sometimes-fuzzy crawlers also create silk webbing or silk strands, similar to that of some arachnids. You might also look for cocoons near plants or on their leaves. Caterpillars leave behind a slimy trail and can be located by following the stains.
That bit is kind of gross and requires a bit of clean-up but it’s important you know what to look for. In keeping with kind of gross indicators, also look for droppings! Caterpillar poop is dark brown or black, and these droppings are usually found near plants, where they feed. Sometimes caterpillars leave their eggs in a cluster on an indoor plant, but you must look very closely to spot it.
How to Get Rid of Caterpillars
Even though some people prefer insecticides, others prefer a more natural approach. With a natural approach, the intent is to cause the least amount of damage. However, insecticides may be the more convenient option depending on your situation. Most caterpillars are harmless to humans. If you attract birds to the area, that would be the ideal solution. Not everybody can as they are not readily available for an avian social gathering at the flip of a switch. But it does help keep the ecosystem healthy.
A natural way to control caterpillar populations is to let your chickens handle them!
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An easier, more convenient approach is to bring a few chickens around. They should take care of the job just as well! If you would rather not kill the caterpillars, you could relocate them. Just wear a pair of appropriate protective gloves and collect them in a glass jar. Then, release them where you feel they would thrive (look for dense foliage, which is what they feed on). Still, if these options aren’t realistic for you, you can always use neem oil mixed with water and apply it to the plants. This mixture effectively dries out and kills caterpillars that have become a nuisance.
Inside the House
You can scoop caterpillars up gently and remove them by hand, providing gloves are in place as some have tiny spikes and can be irritating. To prevent them from coming inside again, you must check for openings, vents, and cracks throughout your house. Be sure to vacuum well, empty any caught caterpillars, and dispose of them right away. The majority of these crawlers are harmless, but you cannot forget that some can be toxic and can cause skin irritation. It is important to identify them accurately and handle them properly according to the species, especially if you have pets and small children in your home.
Some caterpillars are beneficial to gardens.
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Outside in the Garden
The best way to get rid of caterpillars outside in the garden is by diluting two ounces of neem oil per gallon of water and spraying the infested area. This mixture gets rid of them within a few hours and does not damage your plants or anything else. However, one important thing to remember is that some caterpillars are beneficial to the garden, and you do not want to get rid of those! They could be doing you a favor! Nevertheless, another way to get rid of them is by collecting them and placing them in soapy water in a bucket. They dehydrate and die this way.
