caterpillars

[gill_s]

Has anyone had problems with caterpillars of the Silver Y moth? I assume these are what have been eating out the hearts of my Brassicas.They are not either Cabbage White butterfly and look like pics of this moth's caterpillars.
They go for the heart and growing points of the plants.
I use scaffold netting but it doesn't seem to keep them out. I had problems from the beginning of the season and it is still ongoing. Has this been a bad year (good for them!!)

[pongeroon]

I've only had cabbage white caterpillars, despite netting. The buggers just squeeze through, I suppose.

[Monika]

gill_s, I think it's unlikely that the caterpillars of the silver Y moth are eating your brassicas. Firstly, their food plants are stinging nettles, clovers and flax (none of these belong to the cruciferae like the brassicas) and secondly, it's not been a good year for them because they need warm and sunny weather to fly.

If, however, you are right and they are silver Y moth caterpillars, any good frost should kill them off!

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've seen a few Silver Y moths about, but not on the brassicas, but on the allotment on Saturday there were three different types of moth caterpillars as well as the Large and small white butterfly caterpillars on the brassicas. - Yes they are rather badly eaten. So there are lots of flying things still laying eggs. We collected dozens and disposed of them, so hopefully the plants will recover now.