gulf fritillary caterpillar eating passion vine

[bonsai1504]

i have a huge passiflora incense an it is being eaten alive by caterpillars. is there any way i can get rid of them?

[Junebug]

Passiflora is known as a butterfly host. I recently planted 2 varieties of passiflora. Within a day or two there were 4 new varieties of butteflies along with eggs followed by newly hatched catepillars. At first I treated with a little 5% Sevin dust and considered using a systemic insecticide but one of my Passiflora produces fruit and I needed an alternative solution. I began encouraging birds to visit the area with the introduction of a bird bath, bird feeder and bird house and within days the catepillars vanished.

[bonsai1504]

i have a few bird houses that are currently home to many birds but the caterpillars are still there. what elase can i do? i have two dogs and i don't want to hurt them.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by bonsai1504

i have a few bird houses that are currently home to many birds but the caterpillars are still there. what elase can i do? i have two dogs and i don't want to hurt them.

The important thing is to attract birds to a variety of food and water. The intent is to furnish multiple feeding areas in very close proximity to your Passiflora. The goodies and fresh water that you supply should attract birds to the area and they'll find the caterpillars on their own. It took a few days before I noticed the bird bath and feeders being used. The squirrels rob the feeder but the birds get their share. Fruit and bread are provided to further entice the birds to the designated area. One of my bird baths has a second small holding area above the water and this is where I place the fruit and bread. I've included some photos. You can see holes in the older leaves of the Passaflora but the new growth is undisturbed. My plants are a little too shaded but they're climbing to the top of the fence and producing buds.

[bonsai1504]

thanks!now i just have to keep my dogs away from the birds

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by bonsai1504

thanks!now i just have to keep my dogs away from the birds

I've got 2 dogs but they're short legged Corgis and not much of a problem. They like to chase squirrels but a bird is no competition for them. The birds usually visit the feeders early a.m. and again after 4:00p.m. Maybe it would help if you restrict your pets visits during early mornings and late afternoons.

[Dorothy]

Maybe your passion vine will retaliate like the one in this past thread - You're not gonna beleive this!!

[bonsai1504]

that's what the caterpillar looked like! hopefully it will retaliate.