Angle shades Phlogophora meticulosa
A velvety green or brown caterpillar with V-shaped marks each
side of a central pale line down the back. Chews leaf holes
or 'windows' (holes with transparent leaf tissue remaining)
e.g. on basil and parsley.
The photograph on the right shows a basil leaf with angle shades caterpillar damage
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Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae
A fat, smooth caterpillar, mottled green or brown with a pale
underside and dark patches around the spiracles (small, oval
'breathing holes' down each side). Chews holes or 'windows'
in leaves of cruciferous herbs e.g. rocket.
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Carnation tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana
Pest
A small, olive or bright green caterpillar with a yellowish
brown head with brown markings. Rolls leaves up and spins them
together with silk, e.g. on mint. When touched the caterpillars
wriggle backwards.
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Damage (left)
Rolled up mint leaf (carnation tortrix caterpillar would be
inside the leaf roll).
Contamination (right)
Mint leaf with carnation tortrix caterpillar frass (droppings).
N.B. larger caterpillar species leave larger frass on the leaves.
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Cutworm, e.g. caterpillar of the turnip
moth, Agrotis segetum
A plump, greyish-brown caterpillar with faint darker stripes.
Uncommon on protected herbs, but soil-grown crops could be damaged
by the older caterpillars which live in the soil and cut stems
off at or below ground level
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Pyrausta species e.g. Pyrausta
aurata, P. purpuralis
Adult (left)
The small adult moth flies by day and night and can be seen
flitting between plants. The forewings are purplish brown with
golden yellow spots
Pyrausta aurata caterpillar
The small caterpillar is green or purple with yellow stripes
and black spots. It is a particular pest of mint, rolling and
webbing the leaves together. Pyrausta species caterpillars have
also been recorded on wild marjoram and thyme.
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Silver y moth, Autographa gamma
Green caterpillars with dark stripes along the back and a narrow
yellow line down the sides. Unusual in having only 3 pairs of
prolegs (the fat 'legs' under the middle and rear end) rather
than 5 pairs as in most other species. Chews holes in the leaves
of various herbs e.g. basil, parsley and brassicas.
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Small white, Pieris rapae
A velvety green caterpillar with a narrow yellow stripe down
the back. Chews holes in leaves of cruciferous herbs e.g. rocket.
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Large white, Pieris brassicae
A hairy, yellow caterpillar with black spots. often found in
groups. Chews holes in leaves of cruciferous herbs e.g. rocket.
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