How to stop pests eating parsley?

zillah

Dear folk

I couldn't take a proper picture for fly that I guess destroyed garden parsley

Please see attached short video

https://imgur.com/a/ojC48YA

Thx

MitchellMc

Hi @zillah,

Thanks for sending the video through.

From what I can see, it appears to be a fairly common small white garden moth. Because the insect is flying in the footage and we don’t have a clear close-up of its markings, it’s difficult to provide an exact identification.

If it’s affecting parsley, one common possibility is the Cabbage White Butterfly. The adults are white and quite noticeable in gardens, but it’s actually their caterpillars that cause damage by feeding on leaves. While they’re most commonly associated with brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), they can occasionally be found on other plants.

To confirm the cause, you might want to:

• Check the parsley leaves (especially underneath) for small green caterpillars
• Look for tiny yellow eggs on the leaf undersides
• Inspect for chewing damage or small holes in the foliage

If you’re able to capture a still photo of the insect when it’s resting, or a close-up of the leaf damage, that would help with identification.

As a general caterpillar killer, I recommend OCP 40g Eco-Caterpillar-Killer.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell