Have you ever shown mercy to a garden pest?
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
India
August 26, 2008 5:32am CST
Recently, I made the mistake of showing mercy to a garden pest. At that time, I did not know it was a pest. It was not doing any harm. It was just lying in the soil, doing nothing. It was a cute little light green caterpillar with emerald green eyes, and it looked so babyish and innocent. And I thought it was a cute little thing. I ought to have crushed it, but did not have the heart to.
The next day, I noticed that a lot of leaves from my periwinkle plants had been eaten, and I started hunting for the culprit with vengeance. I discovered the "cute little light green caterpillar," happily feeding on the leaves of my precious plants. It had swelled to double its size, and horror or horrors, there were around five of them, feeding on the leaves.
Needless to say, I crushed all five and kicked them out of the garden.
What about you? Ever come across "cute and innocent looking" garden pests? Did you show mercy to it?
Cheers and happy mylotting
12 people like this
26 responses
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
28 Aug 08
Same here! Only when I see them really destroying something do I spray, crush, or squish them. :)
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I don't have much tolerance for insects, but I do have a couple of toads and a salamander that have taken up residence in my raised bed. At first when I didn't realize they were there, they surprised and scared me a little, but now that I know they're there, I just leave them alone.
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
I had several frogs in my garden, and my cat killed them all. Actually frogs, toads, and salamanders are not really pests. They help eat the pests that destroy your plants. :)
Cheers and thanks for the response. :)
1 person likes this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
27 Aug 08
This is true and that's why I leave them alone - I do draw the line at snakes though!
2 people like this
@kimberlylynn (978)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I am always stopping to help creatures. If we are driving and would see a critter in the way, I'll stop and help the little turtle across the road. If a caterpillar is on the ground, I'll get it out of the sidewalk. If a frog is in our kiddie pool, I'll get it out. I can't help it - I used to even feed ants froot loop cereal when I was a kid, I loved watching them bring it into their anthills. There are some creatures I would never help in trouble - a roach, a spider or a snake! Too bad the creature you helped was eating your plants!
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
You are kind hearted, kim!! :) Well, if I see a frog or a turtle or a kitten, I will surely help it; they are not "pests" anyone. As for helping a snake, I wonder if I will have the guts to approach one! :)
@penny64 (1106)
• Australia
26 Aug 08
Earlier this year, I removed a little hairy caterpillar from inside the house out into the garden. Little did I know that it was the first of thousands! They were everywhere, in the house, all over the garden. It took me ages to get rid of them. Even so, I still prefer not to kill them, and normally put them over the fence as we have a reserve out the back. Most recently we had heaps of spiders curled into leaves in the garden, so I got a big stick and used that to pick them up and put them safely out of the way into the reserve. They probably got eaten by birds as soon as I wasn't looking, but at least I felt good about myself ... lol.
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Well penny, that is really MERCIFUL!! 
1 person likes this
@Anne18 (11029)
•
26 Aug 08
SSSHHHHHH!!!! ..... don't tell my neighbour but when gardening and I come accross snails and slugs etc I throw them into next doors garden through the hedge. She doesn't do gardennig and her garden is a big mess, weeds etc.
Does that count as showing mercy???? They probably do get a headache!! LOL
2 people like this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
That's great. Well, since she doesn't do any gardening, I guess it can be counted as "showing mercy."
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Hahahahaha! I have pulled that one myself Anne! My vote is that it counts as showing mercy!
1 person likes this
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I'm very merciful! I even plant things for caterpillars to eat. My thoughts are that there aren't enough pesticides and hours in the day to kill everything that's munching down plants. I try to plant plants that pollinators prefer and use them as 'sacrificial' plants and give things a spot of neem spray when there's a mite infestation or other problem.
My thoughts are that there aren't enough pesticides and hours in the day to kill everything that's munching down plants. I try to plant plants that pollinators prefer and use them as 'sacrificial' plants and give things a spot of neem spray when there's a mite infestation or other problem.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
26 Aug 08
No dear, I have never made such mistake…a pest is a pest is a pest for me. Not only cute innocent caterpillars, there’s an army out there and you will find them on the under surface of leaves in white or black clusters. I always diligently brush them off. But frankly speaking, I would have loved to see a caterpillar metamorphose into a butterfly…have you ever seen one…a butterfly actually coming out of the pupa?
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Nopes, I haven't seen a butterfly coming out of a pupa. Wish I could, though. I am sure it will look beautiful. :)
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Nopes, I haven't seen a butterfly coming out of a pupa. Wish I could, though. I am sure it will look beautiful. :)
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I will admit I've shown mercy to garden pests even though I knew they could cause damage - caterpillars are my down fall. I don't however leave them in the garden - I know they will do what they did to your plants, they live on leaves :(
What I do is 'relocate' :) We have a huge wooded area near our garden space so I will gently carry the little darlings to the woods and make sure they are on a nice green leaf to get them comfy. Caterpillars grow into beautiful butterflies which I love so I never distroy but just move them out :)
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
27 Aug 08
Yes but worth it - did one just this evening, well I didn't but my grandson did. Daughter and two grandchildren stopped over for awhile and to raid my garden for free food - grandson found a catepillar in the strawberries and my ex whom I share a house with right now was going to kill it. I stopped him just in time and grandson was thrilled to carry him to a nearby tree where he'll have lots of leaves to live on until he builds his caccoon.
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
That's really nice! You will soon have a lovely butterfly from the caterpillar you rescued. :)
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
LOL, it is a good idea, but plenty of relocation to do. :)
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
26 Aug 08
[i]Hi positive,
LOL! I never had any mercy to garden pest, I always spray them because I know they will always harm and eat the leaves or vegetables, even the worm! I hate it since all my broccoli looks very unhealthy now, it started to be free from all these pest and we already having a harvest so, yesterday, my hubby just decided to cut if off since almost all its leaves are damaged!
We are hoping the pray will work on so that they will not move into our tomatoes and pepper![/i]
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
27 Aug 08
ohh...I have this link for you to see positive! I love it when boil and mix with other veggies but hubby loves it raw!
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/broccoli.htm
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Oh dear, I really sympathize with that broccoli. I have never seen broccoli though. Is it something like cabbage?
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Oh dear, I really sympathize with that broccoli. I have never seen broccoli though. Is it something like cabbage?
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
1 Sep 08
i usually do unless they attack me personally-i had a bee tormenting me today while i was trying to level the soil.(incidentally,i think it was a queen-it was huge!)i have more of a pest problem with morning glories than i do bugs.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
30 Aug 08
LOL. I laugh a lot when I read your discussion. I think that garden pest is doing just that: to pest around our garden and destroying it bit by bit. I think they are born to destroy plants and green things, ha! My friend works in the pest department and he says never to give these pests a chance, if you want to see a beautiful garden. Here is a link that you might want to browse through. I find the information in there truly handy. It's at: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Pests/pests.htm
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
30 Aug 08
Hello handsome! I am glad my discussions made you laugh. :) Thanks for the link. I will surely have a look at it. :)
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
29 Aug 08
I don't like to kill pests myself, but I have a sneaky trick. I capture them, and leave them to take their chances in the chicken shed!
I found a disgusting centipede in my bedroom the other day. Goodness knows how it got there, but it was one of those absolutely vile orange ones. I caught it in a glass & took it down to the chickens. One of them had it the moment I let it loose, and they had a good kerfuffle about who got to scoff it!!
Of course, vile orange caterpillars can't be described as cute and innocent but I'm afraid I'm equally mean to anything that might threaten my veggies.
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
30 Aug 08
I detest centipedes! We have dark red ones here, and I would willingly toss them to the chickens myself. :)
Cheers and thanks for the response.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I try to find ways to keep them off, with non-chemical solutions (like soap water, vinegar, etc) by looking up what works, but if nothing works, they are toast!
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Soap water works very well with ants. Really drives them off the land. :)
Cheers!
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
I haven't caught any snail destroying anything so far; so I have left them in peace. :) I don't think they are pests, do you? Most snails are sticky, yucky things.
@MissGia (955)
• United States
27 Aug 08
i have a rule about killing insects and pests. If it is in my home i have no problem killing it..if it is a harmless insect like a cricket or something i'll catch it and put it outside, as far as spiders and anything that can sting me go i kill em if they are in my home.
Now, when im outside, i don't kill insects or pests ever. I consider the outside there here, so i feel i have no right to kill them. If they creep me out i just stay away from them.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
27 Aug 08
well nope havent done that...some of my plants and indoor and seen nothing yet..and that includes plants outside...and maybe ill do the same if ive seen one.. 
@saivenkaat802003 (4823)
• India
26 Aug 08
What i have observed from this discussion:
1) If you eat leaves of periwinkle plants for a day.. you could swell to double the size
2) If you look innocent, the chances of you becoming more fatter exists..haha..
Okay.. okay.. that's a little dig, as usual.. but many of my friends here know that i won't kill any insects.. or pests.. it happens so in my small garden.. but what i used to do is to pluck the leaf or the little twig where the worm is, and throw them away.. and after which i used to dust the plant with DDT powder.... the smell of which keeps the pests away..
And sonia.. you have hit the top discussion of the day.. Congrats.. have a good time.
2) If you look innocent, the chances of you becoming more fatter exists..haha..
Okay.. okay.. that's a little dig, as usual.. but many of my friends here know that i won't kill any insects.. or pests.. it happens so in my small garden.. but what i used to do is to pluck the leaf or the little twig where the worm is, and throw them away.. and after which i used to dust the plant with DDT powder.... the smell of which keeps the pests away..
And sonia.. you have hit the top discussion of the day.. Congrats.. have a good time.1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
1. That's why I NEVER eat periwinkle leaves, in spite of their medicinal value
2. I NEVER look innocent.
That's the secret of my slim and trim figure. ;)
Cheers and thanks for the response. :) @zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Yes, I have shown mercy because I believe that there is plenty to go around, plus I don't like to squish bugs... once when I was a child I squished a bug that was crawling up a tree and it's guts squirted right in my eye!!!! Nevertheless, I have definitely done my fair share of squishing when they have started killing my plants.
Now I don't have to squish though... I carry around a plastic container with a lid when I am in the garden and then take what I have collected over to the chicken yard! The chickens come running and gobble them up quick as a wink!
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
27 Aug 08
Your chicken will surely, out of gratefulness, lay extra large eggs for you. I used to keep chickens once, and I would like to keep them again. But I have to make some preparations first. I think I will give the caterpillars to them; they will love it. :)
Cheers and thanks for the response.
@harips (106)
• India
26 Aug 08
it doesn't matter if the pest is doing harm to you.it natural law to be killed by somebody and it is essential for the balance of the earth.
if you let it go then the plants will be at thread.so be cool because ti is natural.any way it is very good discussion mate
hgappy mylotting
