5 Ways to Control Cabbage Loopers

 Cabbage Looper: How to detect and control these cabbage pests

Cabbage is a must-have vegetable in your homemade veg patch. It is a strong plant that is one of the easiest foods to grow and will reward you with crunchy benefits within two months. However, there are many problems faced by cabbage growers, the most important of which is the cabbage looper, an elusive small caterpillar that loves to grab cabbage leaves. They don’t just eat cabbage leaves. You may also find them snacking on your cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts - anyone from the Prosciutto family.

What is Cabbage Looper?

Identification

Their green color makes this little caterpillar easily lose the green color of your cabbage leaves. But they are easy to spot if you look carefully. They are relatively small caterpillars, growing to about 1 to 1 inch in length, recognizable by their distinctive movement - they bend their backs in a circular motion and are slightly intoxicated as they move across the leaves.

Damage

If you can not find the loopers, you will soon notice the damage they leave when they arise. Young larvae fall to the base of young, lower leaves. You will soon find small, severed holes in the leaves, which indicate a caterpillar problem.

5 Ways to Control Cabbage Loopers

1. Manual removal

Manual removal of cabbage looper is the easiest and safest method to choose from. Even if it is a method that everyone can do. Wear your favorite gardening gloves and start hunting when the temperature is still nice and cool; Preferably early in the morning or late in the evening. Pull the annoying little caterpillars out of the leaves and crush them between your fingers. Or, you can pop them into a bucket or jar of soapy water to drown them. This method can be used to deal with many pests ranging from aphids to Colorado potato beetles. You can scrape the eggs from the base of the leaves to remove them before the cabbage hatches.

2. Row covers

One of the best ways to prevent cabbage looper moths from getting anywhere near your cabbages is to use floating line cards. Row covers are a gardener's best friend. They protect your plants not only from cabbage lopers but also from a variety of pests (including aphids). Proper row cover will protect your plants from extreme heat and frost. You can buy order cards from your local garden center or create your own. Creating them is not difficult - all you need is some shade cloth, PVC pipe or wire, and some time.

3. Choose colorful cabbage

Some theories suggest that green or light insects avoid brightly colored plants because they do not mix well with them. Studies also show that red and purple vegetables are rich in anthocyanins, which are mildly toxic to caterpillars and some insects. Plant colorful vegetables instead of the classic green to keep the caterpillars away.

4. Supplemental planting and beneficial insects

Planting accessory plants is a wonderful way to increase biodiversity in your garden, and it will help keep cabbage loopers from taking root in your cabbage patch. In some cases, some plants act as traps for cabbage moths, which prevent them from laying eggs on your cabbages. Nasturtium is an excellent 'trap crop' in your garden, and they have many uses in your kitchen and around your home. You can introduce plants like dill, onion, and lavender, which can prevent these pesky pests. In some cases, some plants attract beneficial insects, which are the worst enemies of the cabbage looper. For example, marigolds attract a myriad of pests that will repel cabbage loopers before they destroy your cabbage and other vegetables. Ladybugs, spiders, and small birds are all-natural predators of cabbage loopers. These can be introduced manually in your garden or by planting the plants they attract.

5. Adhere to good garden hygiene

Prevention and management of cabbage looper infections begin with adhering to good garden hygiene. It should be a familiar practice anyway, but if it is not, you should incorporate it into your weekly gardening routine. Cabbage Looper Pupa will pass the winter in cabbage and vegetable waste, so Always make sure there is no plant debris in and around your vegetable patch. Part of good hygiene practices includes removing all weeds.