How to remove caterpillars from tree trunk

-
One day I noticed there is a small patch on the maple tree. Couple of days later, it grew bigger. I took a closer look ... ... a patch of wiggling caterpillars! Goosebumps were all over my skin, and I fled away.

Then I started wondering, what is the purpose of a caterpillar? After watching this guy's video, Life Cycle of the Tent Caterpillar , I concluded that caterpillars don't have a purpose. They are bad for plants, and they should be eliminated from my tree!

Called the city for help, was told it will take 15 days for someone to come to determine whether this is on city's property. If it is on private land, they will leave it to me.

Oh, well. I will remove them myself as long as I don't need to touch them!

Here is the solution: Spray cooking oil on them. 

Caterpillars breath through their skin, so oil kills them almost instantly. Half of them felt down, the other half I used a paint stick to scrape them off the trunk. All went to the compost bin!

P.S. I took all the pictures from a thoughtful distance, so people like myself won't get goosebumps.





I used this canola oil cooking spray, it is expired already and this is a good use.
I think any type of cooking oil will do. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to clean a stainless steel coffee mug?

-
Image
My favorite stainless coffee mug is getting so flavorful that I think I should give it a deep clean. Add 2 Tbsp baking soda into mug; Pour 1/4 cup white vinegar into mug, enjoy watching the bubbles;  Put the lid on, gently turn the mug so that the inside is rinsed with the solution; With a dish sponge, clean the inside becomes so easy, and the coffee stains come off effortlessly; Raise mug with hot water. It took me 5 minutes to get it as shinny as new. A quick and green way to clean!
Read more

Duvet cover quick fix ~ from zipper to velcro

-
Image
This nice 300 thread count 100% cotton duvet cover has a full zipper closure on one side. The zipper pull is lost somewhere, leaving it on the shelf for a while. I finally have time to fix it. Rip the seams open along the zipper and took it off; Iron the top and bottom fabric flat, align them, and fold over 1", iron again; Divide the length into 3, with right side together, top stitch along the folded line to close the left and right 1/3, and leave the middle 1/3 open; Cut 3 pieces of Velcro tape, 2" each, separate them;  Evenly space the loop side of the Velcro tape on the lining within the opening, pin them in place, then sew the Velcro tape through 2 layers of the lining; Align the other side of the Velcro tapes on the top fabric, pin and sew ONLY single layer, as I don't want to leave 3 squares on the top fabric when done;  Top stitch a straight line along the folded edge of both top and lining fabric, make sure don't catch the other side by accid...
Read more

Home-made dinner rolls

-
Image
These home-made dinner rolls are plain and simply, freshly out of the oven and irresistible!  Makes 24 Total time: 2 hours Ingredients: 2 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp active yeast 2 1/4 cup warm water (30 degree) 1/8 cup butter, at room temperature 1 1/2 tsp salt 5 1/4 cup flour Directions: Mix sugar and yeast in the warm water in a large mixing bowl, let stand for 5 mins or until foamy; Add butter, salt, and 5 cups of flour into the bowl; with a stand mixer, mix together at low speed; Change to knead hook, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour, knead at speed 2 for 5 mins, until the dough pulls off the side of the bowls easily; or knead by hand; Cover bowl and let rise to double the volume, about 1 hour; Line a 11x17 baking dish with parchment paper, divide dough into 3, then each into 8 pieces for a total of 24; make each piece into a ball and place evenly in the baking dish;  Cover baking dish and let rise again, about 15 mins; brush with melted butt...
Read more