Braconids lay eggs on numerous pests, such as aphids, caterpillars (including
cabbageworms and tomato horn worms), and leaf miners.
The imported
cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), is an invasive pest of Brassica crops in North America, Australia, and New Zealand (Jones et al.
san diego) manages the young larva of the Colorado potato beetle and BTK (B.t.kurstaki) reduces populations of
cabbageworm, cabbage looper, hornworms, corn borers and other caterpillars.
rubecula provides benefits both by increasing the level of control of the imported
cabbageworm (P.
A survey of the imported
cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), in cole crops in Massachusetts found that a Chinese strain of Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), released in 1988, has spread and become the dominant parasitoid of this pest in central and western Massachusetts, with an average of 75% parasitism.
My preferred
cabbageworm control method is called Maxim and Sebastian (my two youngest sons, ages 9 and 11), who have Gained their eyes to spot and remove loopers when they're still small, which is no small feat.
I want to share my tip for growing beautiful heads of cabbage that are not riddled with the dreaded
cabbageworm. Last spring I planted 'Stonehead' and 'Early Jersey Wakefield' cabbage plants.
Old mulches can harbor
cabbageworm pupae, but these and other pests seldom survive winter in the wild world of a compost heap or when mixed into biologically active soil.
Many of these insects even have "cabbage" in their name: cabbage loopers, cabbage webworms, and cross-striped
cabbageworms, to name a few.
17: Even though Late Fall is here,
cabbageworms still eat the cabbage in milder years.
The first section, "A Blind, Irresistible Urge," surrounds readers in the natural world's abundance, from a windfall of apricots to the work of opossums and
cabbageworms. Echoing the abundance are Spera's spellbinding sounds and eye-opening word choices.
To guard against aphids,
cabbageworms, flea beetles, and other pests, lay floating row covers directly over seeded crops or plants.
There are many types of parasitic wasps whose larvae feed on problem insects such as aphids, tomato hornworms and
cabbageworms. These parasitic wasps are very small and do not sting people.
They hunt down and consume impressive numbers of insect prey and their eggs, especially pest caterpillars such as
cabbageworms, tomato hornworms, tent caterpillars, and com earworms.
Try 'Green Glaze,' which has bright green leaves and is slow to bolt, if you want a variety that tolerates heat and cold, and is not preferred by
cabbageworms.