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Q: Every year I forget to protect my clivia from being decimated by a voracious grub. Can you tell me what to do please?
Denise B., Hornsby, NSW
A: The lily caterpillar is yellow, grey and black striped with black dots (like eyes) on the head and body. At maturity, the caterpillar measures 5cm. The yellow stripe is more predominant on mature caterpillars.
The adult is a small cream and red moth. The caterpillar is active in hot, wet, humid conditions. It pupates in leaf litter, then moves onto the plant to begin feeding. The larvae feed at night, chewing the leaf surfaces, and damaging the leaf sheath at the base of the plant. Left unchecked the lily caterpillar causes extensive damage, and often kills the host plant. Spray weekly with eco-neem as a preventative measure. If you see signs of damage, spray with Success Ultra or Dipel and reapply in 10 days. The adult moth, small cream and red, can lay 100 eggs in one sitting! Sprinkle sulfate of potash overyour cliveas in February, March, April and June to enhance flowering.
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