Featured Photo
Other Photos
featured_photo_title
Diamondback moth
feaured_photo_co
A. M. Varela, icipe
Is this a Minor Pest?
Yes
Minor Pest Title
Diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella)
Minor Pest Description
It is a serious pest of brassicas and attacks all Brassica species. A full grown diamondback caterpillar is about 1 cm long.
Minor Pest What to do.
- To control DBM in small farms, cover seedlings with covers (fine nylon mesh) to prevent moths from laying eggs on the leaves and or next to the plant.
- Intercropping brassicas with trap plants such as Indian mustard, and repellent plants such as tomato, reportedly reduces DBM infestation in cabbage. In the case of Indian mustard, control measures are directed at DBM on the trap crop. When intercropping with tomato, the cabbage crop is planted 30 days after tomato.
- Biological control of DBM using parasitoid wasp Diadegma semiclausum has proven very effective in the highlands of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
- Botanicals such as neem-based pesticides are very effective for control of DBM.
- Also Bt sprays are effective against DBM. For more information on Bt click here.
Minor Pest Position
2
Minor Pest Firstcontent
117
Pest Type
insect
Other Crops
broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, savoy, swede, turnip
Host Plants
Cabbage,Kales,other Brassicas- Revised
Minor Pest secondContent
876
Featured Image
PH Pests Media Gallery
