Cabbage is one of the most popular garden vegetables. However, this vegetable is favored not only by gardeners but also by numerous insect pests that can destroy a significant portion of the crop in a short time.
Caterpillars are particularly noteworthy among them. These voracious creatures are brought to life by butterflies—delightful and seemingly harmless beings. To be fair, the butterflies themselves don’t harm cabbage directly, as they feed on nectar. But their offspring more than make up for it.
Which caterpillars eat cabbage
Cabbage is threatened by several types of butterflies:
- cabbage white butterfly – a beautiful daytime butterfly with white wings and black markings. It lays eggs (usually on the underside of cabbage leaves), from which larvae – caterpillars – hatch in about a week. They are yellow-green with black spots and a light stripe on their back, about 4 cm long. One butterfly can lay up to 400 eggs during its lifetime. Up to three generations of cabbage whites can develop per season;
- turnip white butterfly – similar to the cabbage white but smaller. Wings are chalky-white with a black edge. Caterpillars are pale green and covered in short velvety hairs. They tunnel inside the head, leaving behind excrement. The damaged head begins to rot. One female can lay up to 500 eggs at a time, and 2–3 generations emerge per season;
- cabbage moth – a dull-looking butterfly with dark brown wings marked by various patterns and spots. A polyphagous and moisture-loving pest. Unlike the whites, it’s nocturnal. Its larvae hatch 4–12 days after eggs are laid. At first greenish, they later darken to gray or dark brown, reaching 5 cm in length. Caterpillars eat leaves down to the veins and tunnel into the head. One moth lays 600 eggs per season. One to three generations may develop annually;
- diamondback moth – a small inconspicuous butterfly with gray-brown coloring, also nocturnal and capable of long flights. It lays eggs on the underside of cabbage leaves. Caterpillars are 7–11 mm long, green with tiny black dots. They can chew holes in leaves and damage the plant’s growing point, preventing head formation. One butterfly can lay 80–300 eggs per season. Four to five generations may appear per year.
Mechanical methods to control caterpillars on cabbage
First, it’s best to prevent the appearance of hungry caterpillars on your cabbage—that way you won’t have to fight them later. As soon as you see butterflies fluttering over your garden, cover the beds with protective material: fine-mesh netting, tulle, or thin white spunbond. This lightweight cover doesn’t interfere with cabbage growth, as it lets in light, air, and water, but reliably blocks butterflies from reaching the plants and laying eggs.
If caterpillars have already appeared but their number is still small, manual collection may help. This process is labor-intensive (especially if you have a large cabbage patch), but it remains one of the most effective methods of control. Check cabbage leaves daily, especially the undersides, as pests often hide there. When you spot caterpillars or egg clusters, carefully remove and destroy them. For easier handling, inspect early in the morning or in the evening, when caterpillars are less active.
Biological methods to control caterpillars
Fortunately, caterpillars are disliked not only by gardeners. These small yet ravenous creatures also have natural enemies. Birds such as tits, sparrows, starlings, and others are major predators. To attract birds to your garden, place feeders and water stations in the yard. You can also hang birdhouses in nearby trees.
Natural enemies of caterpillars also include wasps, ground beetles, and ladybugs. To attract them to your garden, plant blooming flowers, sow strong-scented herbs (dill, caraway, coriander) around your cabbage beds, or leave a small area of wild grasses.
Another gardener’s ally and natural enemy of caterpillars is the parasitic nematode (e.g., Steinernema carpocapsae), which infects caterpillars but is safe for plants and humans. It can be purchased in garden centers and applied to the soil as directed. Once it locates a host, the nematode penetrates the caterpillar and releases pathogenic bacteria it carries. These bacteria kill the caterpillar and digest it from the inside. The pest dies within a few days.
Other biological enemies include entomophagous insects. These include apanteles (e.g., Apanteles fuliginosus) and the trichogramma wasp (Trichogramma evanescens). Trichogramma is released near cabbage beds twice: once as soon as butterflies start laying eggs, and again a week later. Its larvae develop inside the eggs laid by butterflies on cabbage leaves. After pupating, adult trichogramma emerge from the host eggs.
Throughout the growing season, cabbage can be treated with biological products such as Lepidocide, Bitoxibacillin, and Bakturin. These contain spores of aerobic bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis) that cause intestinal toxicosis when ingested by caterpillars. A few days after treatment, the pests die. Additionally, the strong odor of these bioinsecticides repels butterflies and other insects.
Folk methods to control cabbage caterpillars
Companion planting
Some plants help protect cabbage from caterpillars with their aroma. These crops are planted around the perimeter of the cabbage beds or directly between cabbage rows. Companion plants emit essential oils and phytoncides that repel pests. For example, you can plant marigold, dill, calendula, nasturtium, mint, or sage near cabbage. These plants repel not only caterpillars but also other harmful insects.
Mulching the soil
Mulching not only helps retain moisture in the soil but also protects plants from pests. To repel caterpillars, use mulch made from coniferous sawdust, pine bark, or dry grass with a strong odor. These materials create unpleasant conditions for caterpillars and hinder their movement from plant to plant.
Dusting the plantings
You can also get rid of caterpillars by dusting cabbage with tobacco dust, red pepper, or wood ash. Ash can be used alone or mixed with tobacco dust. However, keep in mind that rain or heavy dew will wash the substance off the cabbage leaves, so treatments will need to be repeated after precipitation.
Herbal infusions and decoctions
Herbal-based decoctions and infusions are effective and widely used ways to combat caterpillars. These treatments are safe for plants and humans but unpleasant for pests. Strain the prepared infusion and spray the cabbage beds thoroughly. The best time to spray is in dry, windless weather, in the morning or evening. Be sure to treat both the upper and lower sides of the leaves, where caterpillars often hide. Repeat treatments every 5–7 days, especially after rain.
Garlic infusion
Garlic has a strong smell that repels caterpillars.
To prepare the infusion, take 100 g of crushed garlic and pour 1 L of warm water over it. Let it steep for 24 hours. Then strain and dilute with 10 L of water. To help it stick to the leaves, add 30–40 mL of liquid soap. Spray the cabbage thoroughly, especially the undersides of the leaves.
Wormwood decoction
Wormwood contains bitter compounds and essential oils that repel caterpillars.
To make a decoction, chop 500 g of fresh wormwood (or substitute 200 g of dried). Pour over 5 L of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, then let it cool and strain. Dilute with water at a 1:2 ratio before spraying.
Onion peel infusion
Onion peels contain phytoncides that act as natural repellents.
Place 200 g of onion peels into a bucket and pour over 10 L of boiling water. Let it steep for 2–3 days in a dark place. Strain the infusion and use it for spraying cabbage plants.
Celery decoction
Celery decoction is another effective folk remedy for cabbage caterpillars. Chop 500 g of fresh celery leaves with stalks and pour over 3 L of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Let it infuse for 2–3 hours. Strain, dilute with water at a 1:2 ratio, and optionally add 50 g of liquid soap for better adhesion.
Tomato leaf decoction
Tomato foliage is used to combat many garden pests, including caterpillars. Chop 1 kg of fresh tomato leaves, pour over 10 L of water, and let it steep for 4 hours. Then bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool, strain, and dilute 1:3 with water. Add a bit of liquid soap and spray the cabbage.
Tobacco infusion
Tobacco infusion is another powerful remedy against caterpillars and other pests. To prepare it, take 200 g of tobacco dust or crushed tobacco and pour over 5 L of hot water. Let it infuse for two days, stirring occasionally. Strain, dilute to 10 L, and add 30 mL of liquid soap to enhance effectiveness.
One of the best ways to deal with cabbage pests is prevention. Weed regularly, loosen the soil, and water to strengthen the plants and make them more resistant to pest attacks. Also, don’t store garden debris near the beds. At the end of the season, remove plant residues and dig the soil deeply—this helps eliminate overwintering pests.
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