The imported cabbageworm is the caterpillar of the imported cabbage white moth . You will most often find these caterpillar feed on the undersurface of leaves close to the center of your cabbages near a vein or the mid - rib of the folio , but they may feed anywhere on the leafage . Several organic methods are available for controlling them .
Identifying the Caterpillar, the Moth, and the Eggs
The fine hair on this green caterpillar give it a velvety look . It has faint yellow stripe guide along the length of its consistency , and when fully grown , the cat assess 1 - 1/4 inches long .
Because they are unripe , imported cabbage worms are sometimes upset withcabbage loopersor the diamondback rattlesnake moth caterpillar , although the latter two are a lightheaded green . Sometimes , all three are collocate together as green louse , but each has identifying characteristic . It can be important toknow which oneis infesting your cabbage .
Imported cabbage white moths are white , as their name suggests , but the underside of the wings have a chickenhearted tint . The upper wings have black spot on them . They are small , mensurate only 1 - 3/4 inches long .
The moths lay their ball individually , and you might find the ballock anywhere on the plant . The hummer - shaped eggs are ridged , and , when they are first laid , they are white-hot . However , as they mature , they call on yellow .
Where Have All the Leaves Gone?
Imported cabbageworms are little , but they are voracious feeder . If you have an plague , these caterpillar will wipe out all the leaves , leaving nothing but the stalks and the rib .
Exporting Those Imported Pests
One way to prevent import cabbageworm from attack your clams is to cover it with course back when you plant it and go out it cover for theentire growing season . With the row covers in piazza , the moths wo n’t be able to come near your cabbage to lay their eggs .
If import cabbageworms have obtrude upon your moolah , you have several options , admit :
white-livered crownwork also prey on imported cabbageworms .
Rye flour sprinkled on the leafage in the good morning is supposed to make the caterpillars to become dehydrated , and the caterpillars are theorise to swell up and drop dead if they consume Indian meal that has been spit on dampened moolah leave of absence .
Cabbage Has to Have Friends
Somecompanion plantscan help repel imported Pieris rapae , while others lure the caterpillars away from the cabbage .
Because moolah , cauliflower , Brussels sprouts , Brassica oleracea italica , kale , and kohlrabi are all come down from a common godforsaken mustard flora , insects that are attracted to these crops , like the import cabbage white moth , are also attracted to leaf mustard .
enquiry has shown that bittercress , another relative of Indian mustard , not only attracts the diamondback moth but also toss off the Caterpillar when they start to eat on it . It may or may not have the same effect on imported cabbageworm .
Thyme , on the other hand , repels these caterpillars .
you may plant both mustard and thyme . flora thyme near your cabbage to repel imported cabbageworm and industrial plant mustard to lure the cat and moths to an field where you ’d choose that they stay .
