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Cabbage looper
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A.M.Varela, icipe
Is this a Minor Pest?
Yes
Minor Pest Title
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)
Minor Pest Description
The cabbage looper is a green caterpillar with faint white stripes along the body. Caterpillars are about 3.5 to 4 cm long when fully-grown. As they move, they arch their back in a looping fashion, hence the common name looper. Larvae (caterpillars) chew holes in the leaves, and larger caterpillars consume great amounts of plant material. On cabbage they eat into the heads, reducing the marketability of the produce.
The adult is a moth about 2.5 cm in length and mottled, greyish-brown.
Minor Pest What to do.
- Conserve natural enemies. These caterpillars are attacked by a large numbers of natural enemies, including parasitic wasps and flies. Birds and bats feed on the adults (moths).
- Pick caterpillars by hand and destroy them.
- When control is necessary use biopesticides such as neem-based products or Bt. Neem products control cabbage looper by interfering with the growth of the young caterpillar. Bt and neem should be applied when caterpillars (larvae) are still in the early growth stages.
For more information on Neem click here.
For more information on Bt click here.
Minor Pest Position
3
Minor Pest Firstcontent
117
Pest Type
insect
Custom1
Common names; semi-looper, cabbage semilooper
Other Crops
Crucifers
Host Plants
Cabbage,Kales,other Brassicas- Revised
Minor Pest secondContent
597
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