04/27/2026
Not every caterpillar is a problem. Some will become the butterflies and moths your garden depends on for pollination later in the season.
The key is learning the difference. Once you can recognize which species are worth keeping, your approach shifts. You stop removing everything—and start making space for the right ones to grow.
That doesn’t mean letting all caterpillars stay. Some can quickly damage plants if their numbers get too high. A healthy garden is about balance. Tolerate some feeding, protect vulnerable plants when needed, and step in only when damage becomes excessive.
A thriving garden supports both stages. Caterpillars now. Pollinators later.
Work with that cycle—and your plants, and the ecosystem around them, will be stronger for it.
