Outdoor cannabis growers often encounter different kinds of caterpillars munching on their cannabis plants. No matter the type, however, one should get rid of caterpillars quickly to prevent significant damage to cannabis crops.

Caterpillars represent the larva stage in the life cycle of over 175,000 moth and butterfly species, with moth larvae more appropriately referred to as ‘cutworms’. Whether caterpillars or cutworms, the majority of these soft-bodied insects are strictly herbivorous, save for a few that exhibit carnivorous and cannibalistic tendencies.

You should get rid of caterpillars the soonest to save your precious cannabis babies. Depending on the numbers that have infested your plants, much of caterpillar damage you will see on cannabis are all the same: 

• large holes on leaves
• chewed up leaves
• missing leaves

At the very least, minor caterpillar infestations will leave holes scattered throughout cannabis leaves. That is why it is important to spot them early on and get rid of caterpillars as major infestations can result in irreversible damage that cannot be remedied.

If you find caterpillars have been nibbling on your cannabis leaves, you need to take action immediately. You can shake your cannabis plant a bit to get caterpillars to fall off. There are also several low to non-toxic organic pest control options that can get rid of caterpillars the natural ways. Exercise extreme caution, however, if cannabis is affected by caterpillars during the late flowering stage or close to harvest. You must select the safest methods available to guard the health of cannabis end users.

Prevention and Control

Hand-picking is the easiest way to remove and control a caterpillar infestation. Prepare for some night hunting though, as most caterpillar species are nocturnal feeders. Simply pick them off your cannabis plants and dump into a bucket of soapy water. Wear gloves when you get rid of caterpillars if you despise handling these wormy creatures or have someone else do the job for you.

Organic Pest Control to Get Rid of Caterpillars

Insecticidal soaps and neem oil are among the safest insecticides that can get rid of caterpillars and prevent a future infestation. Soaps and neem are non-toxic and great to use when you have other cannabis pests and want to remain friendly with nature.

Bacterial insecticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis (BT sprays) are your best bet if you want complete eradication and long-term organic pest control for caterpillars. These selective natural pesticides are safest to use without harming cannabis or posing a risk to people who will smoke them eventually.

Introducing beneficial predators like parasitic wasps and praying mantises also allows you to form your own army against caterpillars while you sit back and relax. Nature engineered these masters of stealth to do a swift and brutal job to get rid of caterpillars and reduce caterpillar populations in cannabis grow spaces.

Organic pest control to get rid of caterpillars using a combination of bacterial insecticides and predator bugs is a job best left to the experts. If you want to get rid of caterpillars and other common bugs on marijuana plants for the long term, Ant & Garden Pest Control can help you come up with a comprehensive organic pest control plan for your cannabis grow operation. To get rid of caterpillars, contact us today for more information or to schedule an onsite visit and assessment.