Caterpillars

[flabsis30]

What are the small green caterpillars on my climbing rose and how can I prevent/get rid of them? They are completely destroying all the new growth on the rose and the honeysuckle which are struggling in poor soil anyway! Is there any hope?

[WendyS]

I think the mild winter is causing many of these pests to appear earlier than usual and one way of beating the problem is to hang a few small fat balls or a peanut cage close to, or hanging on the stems of the affected plants. This will hopefully attract birds to feed on them and with the nesting season imminent the birds will get used to the feeders and will soon spot all the caterpillars which will be an ideal food sourse for the young in their nest. Alternatively, if you have a bird table, pick them off and put them on the bird table for the birds to eat there.

[flabsis30]

This is great advice, but, unfortunately, birds do not visit my small garden as it's new and there aren't enough bushes to offer protection... My nuts and bird table haven't been visited, expect by darned squirrels!
Any more advice? The caterpillars wrap themselves up, and the leaf that they're in, in a sticky silky web. I go out each weekend and peel open the leaves and squash about half a dozen of the blighters... Grrr.

[coco pops]

Derris dust would get rid of caterpillars and it is organic.