Yeah! It's Bud Worm Season. Pics

[jbcCT]

Great feedback in thread so far. Thanks to everyone whos contributed, recommended tips and tricks. This thread really solved this problem for me.

As far as doing stuff with with your product that's been contaminated with bud worms, like making hash or oil certainly won't kill you, lol. I just wouldn't wanna smoke any of that. I'm anal about my harvest. It's like I'm making wine for myself, friends & family. I just wouldn't want bugs and bug shit in my wine. That's just me though. I realize for some this is a $$$ endeavor and losing a whole crop is not an option, I get it.

I wash my stuff in buckets and go through everything with surgical gloves while I'm trimming. Nothing contaminated goes on my rack.

BT is like magic. It leaves no damage and will wipe out bud worm.

Next summer I'll hit these fuckers hard at the right time, in mid July when the moths starting dropping the eggs.

 

[jbcCT]

Also, a previous post did mention the worms gravitate towards certain strains. I did three different Bodhi packs this year and they definitely attacked my Hell's Angel x Snow lotus the most. They stayed away from my bubba kush x Snow lotus.

There must be something in certain plants that the moth prefer in terms of where to lay the eggs. They don't discriminate though any will devour and bud left unchecked.

 

[TheGrassIsGreenerInAus]

What is BT?

 

[potroastV2]

Blood Test, or Blood Transfusion.

 

[potroastV2]

Blue Tooth.

 

[potroastV2]

Basic Training. (Boot Camp)

 

[potroastV2]

Bacillus Thuringiensis. (naw, too obscure!)

 

[too larry]

Bra, Training.

 

[TheHarvester]

One of the best and safest ways to combat caterpillars is neting your plants.
The caterpillars are born from eggs that have been layed by butterflys or a moth species.

Hoop house cover also helps if it's sealed.

lady bug larvae are a good defense I believe. They will eat the caterpillar larvae.

 

[TheHarvester]

Cant argue with this post. The man is right. From what I gather if your growing outdoors your going to lose a portion to the worms. Every. Single. Time.

Collateral damage of outdoor growing.

 

[Native man]

Chowing down on your buds at this very moment. At least their chowing down on mine. I hit them with some with some BT this evening.

I have a question or two for those who have used BT in the past. Does it effect the quality of the weed. (Taste, Buzz....) And is it really safe for smoking. How long do you have to wait after spraying before you harvest. I've been using BT on my garden for decades without any problems but I always wash the food I grow before I eat it. But I'd have to be crazy to wash my weed before smoking it. Though I could give it a little spray down a few days before harvest. Any suggestions?

Here's some pics of my two plants progress. You can see the damage done to one of the buds and one of our crawly little pests.

If anyone has any idea of the strains I'm growing I'd sure like to know.

I have soaked mine in cooler of water for a couple of days, and changed the water 3 times a day...all it does is make the buds a dark color almost black and the taste is very mellow but the high is the same.

 

[tylerdurz]

How do you prevent from getting worm / caterpillars

 

[jbcCT]

How do you prevent from getting worm / caterpillars

My strategy is this. In my region the moths lays the eggs early July. Bud work is in full swing 1st day of August. Learn this cycle in your region.

In my case I'm going to be soaking by plants in BT mid July through mid August. My photos run through October so I'm good. Make the first bite of plant be their last. Kill them while the are microscopic.

It's a timing thing with BT. Properly used it kills infestation dead.

The ideal situation is to not let then get a toe hold. The shit works. No impact on bud quality whatsoever.

 

[tylerdurz]

Thanks But what is BT

 

[jbcCT]

http://www.gardensafe.com/products/insecticide/bt-worm-and-caterpillar-killer.aspx

It's s safe to use worm killer. It's what your going to need. Couple different companies put it out. Do a search for BT worm killer and buy a little jug off Amazon.

 

[Zento]

Thanks But what is BT

Bacillus thuringiensis dude

 

[Sir Napsalot]

Monterey BT

 

[Srotak]

With out reading all the posts,,, what you guys are referring to as bud worms are actually corn bore. A small moth about 1/2 inch long lays eggs on the underside of the leaf, looks like a flat cocoon,,,, looking close you can see their eyes just before they venture out to bore in. They cause a lot of spit when they eat, thus causing all the mold in the buds.
But the real damage comes from interrupting the the plants vascular system by boring into the stems. This can fuck up the strongest plant which it will eventually side step the pest,, leaving a big ole knot in the stem.
I used to be so infested with them I’d loose 1/2 my crop. I found an easy way to control them, with out using any pesticides,,,,plant later, you miss their justation egg laying window.
Where I’m at that means planting after the first of July. If you have a sweet corn field near you,,,, yer fucked,,, they spray the fields 3 to 4 times a year, and the lil bastard will migrate to where there is no spray.
Just google European corn bore...
gona be a late spring here,,,, good growing guys,,,!!
Srotak

 

[jbcCT]

One of the best and safest ways to combat caterpillars is neting your plants.
The caterpillars are born from eggs that have been layed by butterflys or a moth species.

Hoop house cover also helps if it's sealed.

lady bug larvae are a good defense I believe. They will eat the caterpillar larvae.

I thought about trying the nets. Seemed like a lot of work. But yeah obviously the best protection. What kind of rig do use to hold up the nets or do you just drape them over the plants?

 

[jbcCT]

With out reading all the posts,,, what you guys are referring to as bud worms are actually corn bore. A small moth about 1/2 inch long lays eggs on the underside of the leaf, looks like a flat cocoon,,,, looking close you can see their eyes just before they venture out to bore in. They cause a lot of spit when they eat, thus causing all the mold in the buds.
But the real damage comes from interrupting the the plants vascular system by boring into the stems. This can fuck up the strongest plant which it will eventually side step the pest,, leaving a big ole knot in the stem.
I used to be so infested with them I’d loose 1/2 my crop. I found an easy way to control them, with out using any pesticides,,,,plant later, you miss their justation egg laying window.
Where I’m at that means planting after the first of July. If you have a sweet corn field near you,,,, yer fucked,,, they spray the fields 3 to 4 times a year, and the lil bastard will migrate to where there is no spray.
Just google European corn bore...
gona be a late spring here,,,, good growing guys,,,!!
Srotak

Good post man. Unfortunately my season is short and my timing is everything. Matter of fact I'm dropping beans this weekend. Wish I could avoid them all together.