AT A GLANCE
There are caterpillars on my birch, what should I do?
It is usually not necessary to fight the caterpillars as they cause little damage to the birch. Larger damages are caused by the caterpillars Large birch sawfly possible. Remove leaves with many caterpillars. If the infestation is severe, use an environmentally friendly one crop protection products.
How do I recognize birch sawflies and their caterpillars?
The large birch sawflies (Cimbex femoratus), also known as birch button sawflies, and their caterpillars, often called afterworms, can be recognized by these characteristics:
- Moths are comparatively large at 20 to 28 mm
- The thorax is black and the abdomen is reddish brown
- Antennae are black at the base, the rest are yellow
- last leg segments are yellow-orange
- Wings are sharp and dark edged
- caterpillars can up to 45mm long be
- its basic color is green
- Back has narrow, dark, yellow-lined longitudinal stripes
- Body is covered with whitish warts
- Caterpillars are nocturnal and sit on the underside of leaves during the day
also read
The typical damage to the birch shows from the edge eaten leaves.
How can I get rid of birch sawflies?
The caterpillars of the birch sawfly also rarely cause major damage that justifies combating the moth and its offspring. But it can happen that they attack a birch severely and bare its crown in no time. Collect and dispose of caterpillars early and also leaves, on the underside of which you will discover many caterpillars or egg clutches. If the infestation is advanced, you can use an approved crop protection products based on neem oil, which largely spares beneficial insects. Also a mix of water and cooking oil can reduce the feeding of the larvae.
What other caterpillars can I find on the birch?
Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)
- body is long and thin,
- colored light green to dark brown
Birch Owl Moth (Tetheella fluctuosa)
- grey-green to beige-grey colored
- lighter underside
- white dots distributed everywhere
- larger black dots on back
- Caterpillars live between spun leaves
Birch toothed moth/Birch porcelain moth (Pheosia gnoma)
- Body length is between 50 and 60 mm
- coloring is violet, reddish brown or green; glittering
- broad yellow longitudinal stripe
- young specimens are paler, darken over time
Birch sickleaf (Falcaria lacertinaria)
- young caterpillars are dark brown to black
- with light stripes on the back
- Body of older caterpillars is very unevenly shaped
- colored beige or darker
Tip
Prevent heavy infestations with birch sawflies in good time
After the leaves have sprouted, check the undersides of the leaves regularly to avoid any to discover eggs. A thinning cut in the spring can also reduce the infestation.
