Cabbage Pests and How to Control Them

You’ve probably heard that slugs and snails can be a problem, but how do you control them? Slugs can feed on cabbage during the night, but they’re more of a problem if they eat it during the day. To get rid of them, try placing a container of beer or salt around your plants. Then, make sure to follow the slime trails to prevent them from feeding on your cabbage.

Whiteflies are another cabbage pest. These tiny bugs have a moth-like flight pattern and cause a white cloud on your plants. These insects can cause mild leaf die-off and discoloration in your plants. These critters also breed quickly and may cause damage if left unchecked. Fortunately, you can control these pests easily and efficiently. By following a few basic tips, you can keep your cabbage free of aphids this summer.

One way to control cabbage worms is to spray the leaves with a bacterial insecticide. This insecticide can kill a variety of insects, from worms to caterpillars of butterflies. When using bacterial insecticide, wear protective clothing and eyewear. Once you’ve sprayed the cabbage leaves, make sure to keep a bionet around your crops. It may not be the most effective method, but it can be effective.

While the most effective control for a cabbage worm is to monitor the plant regularly while it’s young. The larvae feed on all parts of the plant, leaving irregular holes. Those infested leaves are difficult to spot and are often the cause of malformations in your cabbage head. Fortunately, there are natural enemies of most of the pests. In addition to applying chemical pesticides, you should also try monitoring your plants when they’re young.

A good way to detect cabbage worms is to look for fecal matter in the leaves. Typically, these worms live in the upper Midwest, where they overwinter as green pupae. Adult cabbage worms are present in your garden by mid-May. They are primarily active on the head of the plant, so they’re best found in mid-May when they’re at their most troublesome.

You can also use bT or Neem oil to control cabbage worms. These two are nontoxic to humans and are effective at preventing cabbage worms from attacking your plants. If the worms are a problem, consider growing more than one variety of cabbage. The benefits of using these insecticides will outweigh the negative effects. However, if you’d prefer a natural control, be sure to use an organic pesticide.

Harlequin bugs are a problem for organic farmers. These pests are extremely difficult to control and require special methods. To avoid a cabbage pest infestation, try planting your crop in September and April. It’s best to monitor the field weekly to check for new infestations. If you’re unsure what kind of pest is infesting your cabbage, you can purchase a parasitoid wasp. This wasp acts as a natural enemy to the harlequin moth.

One of the easiest ways to kill cabbage worms is to apply cornmeal or rye flour on your plants. You should cover them from the underside of the leaves. However, it’s best to avoid spraying your plants with these substances during sunny days, as they may burn the foliage. If you are unable to control cabbage loopers, you can always try other methods like handpicking or planting companion plants.

The larvae of the cabbage worm and the looper are easily identified by their damage. The damage can range from tiny holes to skeletonized leaves. You’ll likely find a dark green frass on your cabbage plants if you see these pests. Some varieties of cabbage worm will even attack Brussels sprouts and heads of cabbage, so you may need to watch out for these worms, too. They can also eat kale and collard greens.