Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: fixpix on April 17, 2015, 06:58:45 PM

Title: Caterpillar found. Kill or not kill?
Post by: fixpix on April 17, 2015, 06:58:45 PM

Hello everyone,
Found this caterpillar around my garden. I put it in a pot (plastic, but with holes) and put some dirt on top.
I googled and looks a lot like Cossus cossus - goat moth.
I understand this is a pest, attacking fruit trees (their bark).
But... should I kill it?
Is it something rather rare or no-one will miss it?
It's the first time I see such a thing around the garden.

Title: Re: Caterpillar found. Kill or not kill?
Post by: Anthony Darby on April 18, 2015, 01:21:44 AM

The are quite rare. In 30 years of moth trapping in Scotland I never saw one. Never in enough numbers to be a pest. It, and where it was feeding, should smell strongly of goat, hence goat moth.

Title: Re: Caterpillar found. Kill or not kill?
Post by: fixpix on April 18, 2015, 05:07:41 AM

Hello Anthony,
Thanks. I think i was going to let it be.
About the smell, I may be insensitive to it, since my parents have now 3 goats with 5 babies around :)

Mom feeding them. Excuse the attire ;)