This transcript is AI generated; there may be mistakes.
Cabbage worm moths and cabbage loopers are two different species of caterpillar and moth that can feed on ornamental cabbage and kale, causing a lot of damage in a very short period of time.
Cabbage worm moths are also called cabbage whites.
They are white to pale yellow moths as adults, and they're active during the day.
The larvae are green in coloration, slightly fuzzy, and about one and a quarter inches in length.
It's also important to note that they're very slow-moving.
The eggs tend to be a yellowish color and can be found on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.
Cabbage loopers, on the other hand, the adults tend to be a little bit less showy, more of a mottled brown to gray coloration.
The adults are also nocturnal, meaning they're only active at night.
The larvae are a light pale green with white stripes running along their sides.
The larvae tend to move more quickly and are slightly larger at about one and a half inches in length.
The eggs are a white coloration and tend to be found on the lower leaf surface close to the midrib.
It's important to remember that it's the larvae that actually cause the damage to crops, and so those are the ones that we want to control.
The presence of the adult moths is a good indicator that it might be time to scout for larvae or eggs, but they are not the actual pest that is feeding on the crop.
There are a lot of great chemical control options on the market, including spinosad-based products and Bt-based products.
Neem and pyrethrin are also effective options that are available.
Remember that it's always important to rotate your modes of action, and you may need to make repeat applications to get the best control.