The very hungry caterpillars!!!

[mat777]

It seems the greedy buggers have taken a particular liking to one of my plants which I gather is part of the cabbage family.




Now, here I need some advice. if they are moth caterpillars, I will nuke the lot of them with bugspray to prevent my room being full of suicidal light-chasers when I open the window at night. However, if they are butterfly caterpillars then I will leave them be, given that the plant will likely recover and its nice to see lots of butterflys flapping around the garden. so, can anyone identify what type they are form the photos below?

[Mr GrimNasty]

Interesting, I 'think' they are Mullein moths, rather than any type of (cabbage) White.

Edit. Leave them be!

[Shaolin]

Mr GrimNasty said:

Interesting, I 'think' they are Mullein moths, rather than any type of (cabbage) White.

Edit. Leave them be!

Yes to both parts. You used to have mullein.

I find they like the soft top leaves best so when I catch them, I put them in the tough lower leaves, or if there's loads put them on the bird table. No need to kill them now other than spite.

[BlackVanDyke]

Nice caterpiddlers you got there. Smart jackets!

I'd leave'em too - I'm no entomologist but most insects are food for something else, potentially really important food especially as it's bird nesting season... combining that with it being pretty hard to ensure no collateral damage, unless there's an overwhelming reason you've not mentioned I'd leave well alone.

(yes, moths are annoying little buggers if they chase a bright light at night. That said, not all species even do this and it's easy enough to stick a mesh curtain up - with gaffer tape in my case, for a couple of years - if it's an intolerable nuisance for you.)