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PestsUrgent — act today

Caterpillars on Cannabis (Budworms)

Cannabis caterpillars — usually corn earworms or tobacco budworms — bore INTO buds and eat them from inside. By the time you see damage, they're already eating your harvest.

What it looks like

  • Small holes in leaves (early)
  • Dark crumbly frass (poop) in bud crevices
  • Wilting buds with brown rotten spots
  • Small green worms inside buds when you inspect

Quick diagnostic checks

1BT (Dipel, Thuricide) is the gold standard — safe and effective
2Hand-pick any visible caterpillars
3Cut out any bud with frass visible — rot spreads fast

Causes ranked by likelihood

1. Outdoor grows are primary target

Most common

Signs

  • Growing outdoors
  • Moths visible at dusk

Fix

  • Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) spray weekly from pre-flower
  • BT is safe for plants and only kills caterpillars
  • Inspect buds daily during flower

⚠️When to worry

Always. Caterpillar damage turns into bud rot within days. Can destroy an entire outdoor harvest.

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