Brugmansia

A cutting from someone came with small green caterpillers that of course eat holes in the leaves. Suggestions? I've picked a couple off that I could find (they're very small), sprayed with horticulture oil and put some worm castings down.
Will they kill the plant?
Is the brugmansia food for some butterfly that I should be saving?
Thanks a bunch from North San Diego County.

Hi Spinner,
When I see holes in my Brugmansia leaves, I spray the plant with \"Spinosad\" and it has helped. You can find Spinosad in garden centers and Dixieline also sells it. Good luck!

The caterpillars you described will likely hatch moths, not butterflies.

The suggestion for Spinosaid is a good one. This is a bacteria that attacks eggs and larvae. Does not kill adults of most insects. Also, I would follow the state law of limiting application to 6 times per growing season -- which in San Diego is 1 year.

The worm castings you put down was also a great idea -- the worms will create an environment that \"host\" the spinosaid bacteria.

I personally haven't been happy with results from horticulture oils -- perhaps because my area is fertile for all kinds of critters. A serious pesticide that has no bad effects when used properly is Bayer PowerForce -- the active ingredient is Cyfluthrin, a synthetic pyrethrene. If you are concerned about it, see this link:

www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33504