[viettaclark]

Last year I had caterpillars on my carrots in November. They had been under debris netting all year so I don't know how they did that. I rooted around for pupae later on but didn't find many.
Forward wind to a couple of weeks ago. There on my lettuce in the same bed (still covered) was another of the same caterpillars. It was quite mature so hadn't just hatched.
How did it survive the Winter in caterpillar form? Can they go into suspended animation?
How did they do that?
So the debris netting has become a lepidoptera farm?

[catweazle]

i believe that some types do overwinter in catapiler stage though most do it in the chrysalis stage

[leeks r us]

sounds strange to me viettta grown carrots for years never known an attack from catterpillars.?

[sunshineband]

Some kinds of insects, including overwintering caterpillars, have blood that has the equivalalent of antifreeze in it, so that they do not freeze into a solid lump in sub zero temperatures --- they just wait it out.

Amazing really 

[fatcat1955]

Another reason why you should remove as much neeting/barriers as you can to let the bird's in for a feast. I take all my netting down including the fruit cage which is 10mtsX7mts to let the bird's devour all the overwintering nastie's.

[viettaclark]

Good advice!
I used to clear the bed and let the chooks feast but I had chard, spring cabbage and lettuce in there already this Spring .
Must think a bit more about rotation but I've only got 2 beds debris netted and tend to use them continuously.
When the cabbage and lettuce come out I'll fence off the parsnip bit and let the hens on!
Noticed the first Cabbage White yesterday when we got a beautiful warm afternoon.
Here we go again!
Make sure the brassicas waiting in pots are covered well or you'll be planting out eggs UNDER the debris!!!!