large white butterfly catipillers

[GriffinAnt]

ok so i have a explosion of large white butterfly catipillers in my garden was wondering if they can be used as feeder food ? all they do is eat they must be juicy

[MCWren]

It depends on the species. Photographs would be necessary for identification.

[GriffinAnt]

large white also known as the cabbage white.

[GriffinAnt]

that was my thinking.

[MCWren]

Did you end up feeding them to your ants?

[ooper01]

Hopefully the cabbage or vegetables they were feeding on did not have pesticide on them at any point...

[GriffinAnt]

no i never use anything on my veg

[Geffbro]

im curious, why does the pesticide not kill the <feeder insect>, but it will kill the ant that eats the <feeder insect> which didnt die from pesticide (instead died from your human wrath)?

[GriffinAnt]

thats easy. there is here in the uk a catipillar that only eats the ragworth plant this makes it highly posinous. the plant itself will kill a cow if eaten and yet has no effect on the catipillar

[ooper01]

im curious, why does the pesticide not kill the <feeder insect>, but it will kill the ant that eats the <feeder insect> which didnt die from pesticide (instead died from your human wrath)?

Yes that is the general idea - the feeder insects have a higher tolerance, or are just simply a larger creature and can handle small amounts of pesticide than the smaller ants.