The grownup imported cabbageworm is a white day-flying butterfly with one to 4 black spots on its wings and a wingspan of 1½ to two inches.
The cabbageworm larvae are 1¼ inch velvety, light-green caterpillars with a high-quality yellow stripe down the again.
Imported cabbageworm larvae bite ragged holes within the foliage of cabbage-family vegetation and from time to time consume their manner into the heads of vegetation. Additionally they go away in the back of a cushy inexperienced excrement.
The Imported Cabbageworm is sometimes called the cabbage malicious program and the Eu cabbage malicious program.
Grownup moths emerge from overwintering pupae in early spring to put eggs. The feminine butterfly flies abut from plant to plant depositing eggs on the base of leaves. The eggs are yellow, bullet-shaped cones laid singly on undersides of leaves.
Eggs hatch in a couple of week and the tiny inexperienced larvae caterpillars feed on leaves for 2 to 3 weeks or bore their manner into the primary heads of greens turning the heads to mush. After two to 3 weeks of feeding the caterpillars pupate in lawn particles at the soil floor.
Grownup butterflies emerge from the pupae in a single to 2 weeks. There are 3 to 5 overlapping generations of imported cabbageworms every yr.
Imported cabbageworms overwinter within the flooring or on or close to host vegetation as larvae or pupae then emerge in past due spring.
Imported cabbageworms are discovered during North The us.
Goal Vegetation: Imported cabbageworms assault broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese language cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips.
Feeding Behavior and Injury: Larvae consume massive, ragged holes within the leaves and heads of cabbage relations vegetation. They go away in the back of darkish inexperienced feces that contaminate leaves and heads.
Natural Controls: Quilt vegetation with floating row covers very early within the season. Handpick larvae if the infestation is mild. Use yellow sticky traps to catch feminine butterflies. As a final lodge, spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at one to 2 week durations. Mud vegetation with rye flour or cornmeal; cabbage worms that consume the flour will bloat and die.
Natural Keep watch over Calendar: Here’s what you’ll do seasonally to keep watch over imported cabbageworm:
- Earlier than planting: Use a mix preventive spray of BT, insecticidal cleaning soap, and kelp extract; use this spray thrice every week for 2 weeks; spray the entire lawn; repeat each two weeks till you’re a month or extra into the rising season; when really useful bugs emerge, forestall generalized spraying and spray most effective infestations.
- At planting time: Quilt plants with agricultural fleece row covers or a high-quality internet barrier. Use a preventive Bacillus thuringiensis spray early within the season. Use BT later for massive infestations; spray all portions of the leaves, particularly the undersides; repeat after rains. Use a BT spray each 10 to fourteen days.
- Whilst plants broaden: Position cornmeal across the lawn; caterpillars that consume the meal will bloat and die. Mud or spray with BT each two weeks from transplanting till heads shape.
- After harvest: Blank the lawn of all plant muddle to deprive cabbageworms of a spot to overwinter—particularly cabbage-family crop particles. Domesticate the soil to a intensity of 6 to eight inches to reveal pupae to killing chilly temperatures.
Herbal Predators: Insect predators come with lacewings, girl insects, and flooring beetles. Braconid and trichogramma wasps parasitize the eggs of imported cabbageworms. Animal predators come with bluebirds, chickadees, and English sparrows.
Medical Title: Artogeia rapae
