Bugs, bugs, bugs... (& the little devil himself)

So our chrysalis collection has become a real science experiment!  We put the jar on a shelf for a couple of days and when we checked on it today we found it had morphed into a big cloud of white mold...bleck.  We did put air holes in the top but perhaps they weren't big enough. We've counted about 8 or so of the little guys.  I wonder if the mold will effect them? 

Can you see the chrysalis hanging there in the center of the jar?

Here's one that attached himself to the top.  Well, needless to say we took the top off and put the jar outside in a shady spot.  My only worry is that we'll be letting go some sort of pest moth & perpetuating the caterpillar problem. Likely?  We shall see. I think that caterpillars often pupate on the plant they like to visit in maturity. I don't really care if we have an attack of the hollyhocks again just not an attack of my tomatoes!

 

Oh and speaking of attacks... I think I found the little devil that's attacking my seedlings! 

My artichoke seems to be recovering and no more damage.  The thing ate one of my sage seedlings and is now onto the sunflower seedlings!  So I figured it was a fast moving little pest as the sunflowers are far from the artichoke & sage.  Then I was watering my Oleanders and many, many of these little guys popped out.  One jumped from a sunflower.  Can you see him in there? All cute & innocent?  

As far as I can tell there is no real use for Oleanders.  Sure they are beautiful but they hide so many little pests & are poisonous to animals and kids!  Not my first choice of a backyard hedge.  So what do I do to get rid of tiny grasshoppers?  Any tried & true methods?  I think I may try the hot sauce on the seedlings and see if that will keep them at bay.  But what about organic weapons of mass grasshopper destruction?  I'm ready for war!