How do I get rid of a green grub?

G
by G

It has been eating my, sage, coleus, brussel sprouts, kale, and even my mint.

  2 answers
  • Em Em on May 20, 2019

    Well, you can always visually hunt for them and then squish the worms. It may take a while with this tactic to eradicate the pests, but at least you aren’t poisoning the mint or surrounding area with chemicals.

    Another organic approach is to use Bacillis thuringiensis. Yes, it’s a mouthful, but all it really is a bacterium that will kill off the caterpillars with little to no effect on you, wildlife, pollinators and other beneficial insects. The down side to this is that you must cut back the mint to the ground prior to applying Bacillis thuringiensis, or Bt. No worries though, as the mint will rapidly regroup.

    What if you can’t see any worms eating the mint plant? The culprit might still be mint plant worms – cutworms to be exact. Cutworms are nocturnal feeders and then post feast, hiding in the soil during the day at the plant’s base or in its debris. If you dig down a little bit, you may find cutworm larvae. They are 1 to 2 inches in length with a wide range of colors and patterns. A telltale sign it’s a cutworm? They curl into a C-shape when disturbed.

  • Lisa Lisa on May 20, 2019

    Let your chickens hang around where they live.