Night Blooming Jasmine - Ask Extension
HI, My beautiful night blooming jasmine are being eaten by something. I found spec's of black dots. Home depot said the spec's were Snail poop and ga...
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Night Blooming Jasmine #381397
Asked January 07, 2017, 4:17 PM EST
HI,
My beautiful night blooming jasmine are being eaten by something. I found spec's of black dots. Home depot said the spec's were Snail poop and gave me snail medicine. They told me to go out at night and I would see the snails. I found no snails but there were caterpillars on every plant. this is the only plant that is being eaten and I need help. Can you tell me what to do? can caterpillars leave black poop? tiny little specks of black or is it an insect of some kind? How do I rid my babies of the Caterpillars?
My beautiful night blooming jasmine are being eaten by something. I found spec's of black dots. Home depot said the spec's were Snail poop and gave me snail medicine. They told me to go out at night and I would see the snails. I found no snails but there were caterpillars on every plant. this is the only plant that is being eaten and I need help. Can you tell me what to do? can caterpillars leave black poop? tiny little specks of black or is it an insect of some kind? How do I rid my babies of the Caterpillars?
Miami-Dade County Florida
Expert Response
You definitely found the problem, caterpillars! The least toxic way to manage is to simply pick them off and drop them in a bucket of soapy water (or on weeds in another part of the yard far away from the jasmine). Insecticides can also help, but keep in mind the birds may eat the treated caterpillars. You might also try surrounding the base of the plant with sticky traps to catch the caterpillars before they climb the plant.
