Thought it would be worth a mention... catepillars !

[sanatic1234]

Past couple of days when taking the protection off my t-rex and from off my washingtonia robusta I have found caterpillars on the plants and clinging to the fleece, I have also found two on my Echium although that isn't protected 99.99% of the time. I thought i would mention it as other members may be experiencing the same thing but not knowing about it.

I also found my first two slugs on my Bescheronia two days ago. So they are coming out for a go already.

[rufc15lizzie]

yes Sanatic, i picked a caterpillar out the top of one of my Echiums last weekend.

[Deedee]

Ill check my Trex San, i put fleece round the growing tips last week, thanks for the tip, i wouldn't of thought to look for pests. i mean it is winter

[Leigh]

Don't know about coming out, none of them have rested done here, even the greenfly and blackfly are still at it.
There again the Nasturtiums haven't died off yet and are still flowering And Cannas are still trying to flower as well

[fern Rob]

plenty of woodlice on my trachys that I have been removing.

[sanatic1234]

yes Sanatic, i picked a caterpillar out the top of one of my Echiums last weekend.

They are not wasting no time rufc15lizzie are they, the ones i removed were really fat was yours?

[sanatic1234]

Ill check my Trex San, i put fleece round the growing tips last week, thanks for the tip, i wouldn't of thought to look for pests. i mean it is winter

Exactly why i thought i would do a topic on it Deedee as i was a bit surprised really not so much by the slugs but by the caterpillars.

[sanatic1234]

Don't know about coming out, none of them have rested done here, even the greenfly and blackfly are still at it.
There again the Nasturtiums haven't died off yet and are still flowering And Cannas are still trying to flower as well

Unlucky leigh! could be different next week weather wise as looks set to change. Good news with your canna's and Nasturtiums though nice bit of color for winter.

[sanatic1234]

plenty of woodlice on my trachys that I have been removing.

Not found any woodlice on my Trachycarpus's yet but always some hanging about on the tree ferns, i pick them out of the crowns but leave them on the trunks as they never seem to do any harm really. Suppose they are just feeding on the dead stuff.

[sanatic1234]

plenty of woodlice on my trachys that I have been removing.

Not found any woodlice on my Trachycarpus's yet but always some hanging about on the tree ferns, i pick them out of the crowns but leave them on the trunks as they never seem to do any harm. Suppose they are just feeding on the dead stuff.

[fern Rob]

plenty of woodlice on my trachys that I have been removing.

Not found any woodlice on my Trachycarpus's yet but always some hanging about on the tree ferns, i pick them out of the crowns but leave them on the trunks as they never seem to do any harm really. Suppose they are just feeding on the dead stuff.

I have had a few in the crown that I have removed plus a bee, they don't seem to do any damage, only earwigs seem to cause some damage to some croziers but I have removed most from the garden.

[sanatic1234]

Funny you should mention a bee I had one in mine a round early December time, I couldn't believe it really but it seems to have gone now. I suppose they have to keep warm some how.

[Blairs]

I was thinking the same this today: that pests are still out in number. The damp mild weather has brought lots of Slugs out. I thought wind had bent my Arum lily leaves but I found a clan of small slugs eating them. Have also found Vine Weevils (some annoyingly inside). On the plus side it is getting brighter and this time next week it is Feb!

[fern Rob]

Funny you should mention a bee I had one in mine a round early December time, I couldn't believe it really but it seems to have gone now. I suppose they have to keep warm some how.

I was checking croziers, it buried its self quite deep in to the crown.

[Leigh]

Funny you should mention a bee I had one in mine a round early December time, I couldn't believe it really but it seems to have gone now. I suppose they have to keep warm some how.

I was checking croziers, it buried its self quite deep in to the crown.

Bees hibernate in lots of plants for winter and will burrow underground next to crowns of plants.
They do no harm, leave em be