Non alpines: other types of gardening: growing veg.etc for instance

[ronm]

They drop quickly and climb back pretty well we think. Ground beetles and probably many other Coleoptera feed on them definitely, but our wondering is if the adults will lay on 'submerged' 'brushed' leaves etc. As I said its a theory that MAY have been borne out this year. Of course there may be other unobserved factors. BUT if you are always plagued by these insects, and do not want to spray or spend hours picking , give it a go and post your results here. 

[annew]

We also seem to have every sawfly known to science (at least it feels that way) - gooseberry, geranium, solomon's seal, aquilegia etc etc.
This is a new one, maybe not a sawfly at all, but the same MO. What's eating my mint?

[John85]

Hello Anne
What kind of geranium(s) is(are) eaten by unknown caterpillars?
You are frightening me!The only damage I ever had on geraniums were young plants of the cinereum group eaten by slugs and snails or roots eaten by voles.

[ronm]

Sorry Anne,  I just can't get enough information from this picture. I've tried blowing it up but it just blurs on my computer.
Is this as big as they get? Is this a current picture? Do they produce any silk? If they are there still, any chance of a closer and/or sharper pic?
I hope someone else can interpret it for you better than I. 

[daveyp1970]

Ron could they be Pyrausta aurata larva on Annes mint.Thank you Anne for the Galanthus i didn't think you would recognise my account on Ebay 

[ronm]

The Mint Moth. First thing I considered but I'm not even sure they are Lepidopteran from this pic. Body and legs don't look right. Not sure that that moth even feeds in this way. But could be Davey. Can't tell.  Anne may be able to clarify somewhat.

[daveyp1970]

The Mint Moth. First thing I considered but I'm not even sure they are Lepidopteran from this pic. Body and legs don't look right. Not sure that that moth even feeds in this way. But could be Davey. Can't tell.  Anne may be able to clarify somewhat.

Ron i have no idea i just googled mint beetle but found that,its quite a handsome moth.

[ronm]

  I think the adult is a beautiful moth,  . But is it our culprit,  I seriously have my doubts.  But.......

The Mint flea beetle and blue mint beetle larvae usually feed on roots and stems  I think. But I am a little out of my comfort zone with this one

Hopefully the cavalry will arrive...

[annew]

Here's a close up of the beastie - I had to go and raid the bin to find them  - I didn't dare leave them in situ. However I'll put them on some mint in a jar and see how big they get. At present they are about 6mm long. They curl up when disturbed.

[annew]

The geranium sawflies, by the way, make lace out of several of my garden geraniums. I'll have a look tomorrow and see if there's been any damage this year.

[ronm]

Definitely Lepidoptera, - three pairs thoracic legs, four pairs ventral prolegs, one pair anal proleg.  " Curl up when disturbed" - Noctuids. Looking very 'Angle Shades', Phlogophora meticulosa, or one of the Yellow Underwings, Noctua sp. but didn't think the young larvae fed in  that way, so probably not

We will get this species Anne.

[annew]

I've already got it.....

[ronm]

I've already got it.....

Oh yes, I'd forgotten that,

[John85]

The latin name of the geranium sawfly is protoemphytus carpini.
Does that mean that the usual host plant is the hornbeam?

[Brian Ellis]

Still not in flower John, but at least 7 foot tall and you can see the buds growing away from the main stem.