The Mouse wrote:If it is definitely not safe to use the Bug Clear Ultra on them ,..
I wonder what the commercial growers use on their brassica crops.
It's not just that it may be unsafe to use Bug Clear, I doubt also that it would be effective. Insecticides which are formulated to kill piercing and sucking insects (aphids, whitefly, red spider mite and their like) tend not to be effective against biting and chewing pests (caterpillars, maggots and so on).
Whatever commercial growers use on their crops is unlikely to be available to the amateur. But there are other strategies to fight against caterpillars.
Bacillus thuringensis, which I mentioned on another thread recently, is an extremely effective biological control. It only kills caterpillars, leaves no residue and is not toxic to birds or bees (Bug Clear is a neonicotinoid, which has a question mark over its safety for bees). I'm not sure where you'd get it, though. Try the
Green Gardener, maybe.
It's a pity birds don't eat caterpillars. They are insanely bitter, is why — I tried one once. I can see how the Oompa-Loompas didn't think twice about going to work for Willy Wonka in preference to their diet of mashed caterpillars. (However, history does not record that in his employ they were all paid below minimum wage, suffered tooth decay, and died an early death of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.)
Allotment, but little achieved.
) We could have a year-round supply of protein in our own garden!