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Solomons Seal sawfly
Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly demoloshing our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year tho'), I wondered why they seem to have no natural predator. Anyone know? Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] -- Michael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
In message <heBRYhAy8BqEFwvd@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes > >Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly demoloshing >our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year tho'), I wondered >why they seem to have no natural predator. Ah. So that's what they are. I have a flock demolishing the pond flags. My solution has been to clog the leaves sharply with a broom handle and hope the buggers can't swim:-) A pair of Moorhens are rearing 6 chicks and showed no interest. Lots of Blackbirds feeding on the Wild Cherries close by. Perhaps they taste unpleasant? regards -- Tim Lamb |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
In message <heBRYhAy8BqEFwvd@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes > >Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly demoloshing >our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year tho'), I wondered >why they seem to have no natural predator. > >Anyone know? > >Mike > My first thought was perhaps, like the caterpillars of Cinnabar Moth or Monarch Butterfuly, they absorb toxins from the food plant. But on googling I find that Polygonatum is of low toxicity, so perhaps that isn't the case. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
Tim Lamb <tim@marford.demon.co.uk> observed
>In message <heBRYhAy8BqEFwvd@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J >Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes >> >>Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly >>demoloshing our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year >>tho'), I wondered why they seem to have no natural predator. > >Ah. So that's what they are. I have a flock demolishing the pond flags. >My solution has been to clog the leaves sharply with a broom handle and >hope the buggers can't swim:-) Interesting. It won't be the SSS as these are species specific. But there are a wide range of sawflies. > >A pair of Moorhens are rearing 6 chicks and showed no interest. Lots of >Blackbirds feeding on the Wild Cherries close by. Perhaps they taste >unpleasant? Yeah, well, I haven't been able to carry out a tasting session, hence the question! ;-) Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] -- Michael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
In message <hwPxzyII4NqEFwti@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes >>>Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly >>>demoloshing our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year >>>tho'), I wondered why they seem to have no natural predator. >> >>Ah. So that's what they are. I have a flock demolishing the pond >>flags. My solution has been to clog the leaves sharply with a broom >>handle and hope the buggers can't swim:-) > >Interesting. It won't be the SSS as these are species specific. But >there are a wide range of sawflies. These have grey backs and cream tummies and are currently 25mm long. Is there a rogues gallery available on line? My Collins book only gives the Birch Sawfly. regards -- Tim Lamb |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
Tim Lamb <tim@marford.demon.co.uk> observed
>In message <hwPxzyII4NqEFwti@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J >Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes > >>>>Admiring the grey caterpillars of the Solomon's Seal Sawfly >>>>demoloshing our plants (happens 'most every year - not last year >>>>tho'), I wondered why they seem to have no natural predator. >>> >>>Ah. So that's what they are. I have a flock demolishing the pond >>>flags. My solution has been to clog the leaves sharply with a broom >>>handle and hope the buggers can't swim:-) >> >>Interesting. It won't be the SSS as these are species specific. But >>there are a wide range of sawflies. > >These have grey backs and cream tummies and are currently 25mm long. Is >there a rogues gallery available on line? My Collins book only gives >the Birch Sawfly. I did a Google search on Solomon's Seal & Pests. Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] -- Michael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< |
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Re: Solomons Seal sawfly
In message <4Ue3q6BMzrqEFwsQ@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J
Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes >Tim Lamb <tim@marford.demon.co.uk> observed >>In message <hwPxzyII4NqEFwti@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid>, Michael J >>Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> writes >>These have grey backs and cream tummies and are currently 25mm long. >>Is there a rogues gallery available on line? My Collins book only >>gives the Birch Sawfly. > >I did a Google search on Solomon's Seal & Pests. Ah. Iris Sawfly, (Rhadonicerea micans?) RHS website. regards -- Tim Lamb |
