How to Kill Caterpillars on Carrots in a Garden

Treat caterpillars on garden carrots with a carbaryl-based insecticide spray.

Carrots are featured plants of many backyard gardeners. Caterpillars also enjoy the tender, aboveground vegetation of carrots. Army worms, cutworms, dagger moths, and underwings are a few of the caterpillar varieties that often cause damage to carrots in a garden. Control of caterpillars on carrots can be achieved with the use of a carbaryl-based insecticide spray. Premixed sprays are available for purchase from a variety of retail outlets, including garden, home and nursery centers.

Things You'll Need

• Premixed carbaryl spray
• Gloves
• Eye protection

Instructions

1. Put on gloves and eye protection before spraying carbaryl-based insecticides. Choose a time of day when the temperature is below 85 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent vegetation burn. Select a time when there is no chance of rain for at least three hours.

2. Shake the spray bottle of carbaryl insecticide to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Adjust the spray nozzle to a spray pattern.

3. Hold the nozzle of the spray bottle 8 to 12 inches from the carrot leaves on which caterpillars are feeding.

4. Spray the liquid insecticide onto the carrot leaves to thoroughly coat them from top to bottom.

5. Monitor the carrots for more activity by caterpillars after the application. Wait seven days to spray the carrots again, and do not apply the spray more than six times during the growing season.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep pets and children away from the treated carrots until the carbaryl spray has completely dried.

References

• University of Missouri Extension; Caterpillars in Your Yard and Garden; February 2003
• Sevin Bug Killer: Sevin