12 Ways to Get Rid of Cabbage Moths and Worms Naturally
20.08.2024 - 16:08
/ balconygardenweb.com
/ Sheri Dorn
One day, your brassicas are swaying happily in the breeze, and the next, out of nowhere, you’ve been invaded by the worst—cabbage moths and worms! They sneak up on you, camouflaged and relentless. But before your harvest becomes a lost cause, here are ways to get rid of them!
Cabbage worms are the larvae of the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae). They are small, green caterpillars with faint yellow stripes along their sides. Cabbage moths (Mamestra brassicae), on the other hand, are nocturnal moths.
Both are pretty common and just as dreadful! They don’t harm the plants themselves but lay eggs on the underside of the leaves of various cole crops—cruciferous cool-season veggies that are descendants of wild cabbage. These include cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, etc.
The larvae then chew holes into them and also leave behind frass—powdery refuse—which contaminates the plant yield.
Before getting into it, here’s a reminder to always opt for gentle preventive measures when you can. A proactive approach towards deterring these pests can reduce the need for more aggressive treatments later on.
The critters in question are excellent at camouflaging, so be extra vigilant in looking out for telltale signs of cabbage worms and moths on your vegetation. Look for holes or ragged edges on leaves, clusters of eggs on the undersides of leaves, and silk webbing around the plants. If the leaves start wilting with no obvious cause for stress, this could also be a sign.
By regularly checking on your plants, especially the undersides, you’ll catch their eggs and larvae before they get out of hand. When you find them, just remove the infected parts and pests with your hands and drop them in a container of soapy water to get rid