[Totty]

 The worst pest for me this year has been an as of yet un named catterpiller, nearly all black when fully grown. They then tick themselves just under the soil before turning into dark brown chrysalis. I'm keen to eradicate them before next season. Is there any soil drench that anyone can recommend, or has anyone had any experience of using a flame gun to kill anything in the top inch of soil. I'm only looking at treating the soil undercover. Outside is not so bad.

Totty.

[Aunt Sally]

Can you tell us a bit more about them.

What crops did they attack ?

What size are they ?

When were they active i.e. eating crops ?

Do you have a photo of them ?

[ANHBUC]

You could always borrow a few chickens, they will soon clear the full site for you.   Environmentally friendly and they will fertilise it for you as well, what more could you ask for? 

[Totty]

The chicken idea would work, but not feasible for the ground I want cleared.

Aunt Sally, they eat all crops, they ate dahlias and even some chrysanthemum leaves in the cut flower border.

They are a bit bigger than cabbage white catterpillars and are still active now ( although not in as many numbers as the height of summer.

Totty

[ANHBUC]

You could try enticing starlings, blackbirds etc. with some feed, they would do the same job once they know there is a good food source there.   

[Salmo]

Dig the soil over in the winter to expose overwintering chrysalises to the birds and weather.

[Totty]

As mentioned in the first post though, it's all undercover. Outside, the winter digging will expose the pests to frost and hungry birds, but in the greenhouses it won't. One of the greenhouses is 70ft square so that's why I'm looking at a more heavy handed approach.

Totty

[ANHBUC]

Sorry Totty, I misread that.  Would it be possible to use a mini rotavator in the greenhouse?  The only other solution I can think of is to identify the pest and find a natural predator to introduce.  If you can post some photos of the caterpillar/grub/chrysalis someone might be able to identify it.  What was it eating in the greenhouse as this should also help to identify the pest?

[Totty]

I use a mini tiller and a large rotorvater in there, the trouble with that is, it will bury some deeper. When they are right near the surface is when they will be easier to treat I reckon.

Totty

[ANHBUC]

I would be tempted to sieve them out then.  If you have children you could make a game of it with prizes for the amount they find.     Then you can always put them on a bird table so they are not wasted.   

[Totty]

Sieving would be the ideal way, if it were just in my 12x8 at home. In something 70ft square, it may take a while.....

Totty

[Ema]

Did think of this http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/mobile/nemasys-caterpillar-killer-pid2512.html but don't think they'll work on the ground.

I do like the chicken idea best or even some pigs

[ANHBUC]

Sieving would be the ideal way, if it were just in my 12x8 at home. In something 70ft square, it may take a while.....

Totty

Ahh, when you said 70ft square I thought you meant 10ft x 7ft and not 70ft x 70ft.