Fall Cabbage pests

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

Introduction

Ornamental Fall cabbage is heavily targeted by caterpillars, specifically imported cabbageworms, cabbage loopers, and diamondback moth larvae.  They all chew large holes and defoliate plants.

Other key fall pests include sap-sucking cabbage aphids, shield-shaped harlequin bugs, and flea beetles.

Caterpillars

Imported Cabbageworm (Pieris rapae)

Velvety green caterpillars from white butterflies that hide under leaves and chew holes.

Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni)

Light green caterpillars that "loop" when moving. Causes severe defoliation.

Diamondback Moth Larvae (Plutella xylostella)

Very small, pale green worms that wiggle rapidly when disturbed and like to skeletonize leaves!

Cross-striped Cabbageworm (Evergestis rimosalis)

A striped caterpillar that can destroy the growing tip.

Other pests

Cabbage Aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae)

Tiny, gray-green, sap-sucking insects that cluster in colonies, causing curled, yellowing leaves and sticky, black sooty mold.

Harlequin Bugs (Murgantia histrionica)

Red, orange, and black shield bugs that suck plant juices, causing white blotches and wilting.

Flea beetles (Psylliodes chrysocephalus)

A dark shiny metallic blue-black beetle that likes to jump when disturbed.

Management and Control

Handpicking actually does work ! Regularly inspect the undersides of leaves to remove caterpillars.

Use a strong spray of water to dislodge aphids.

Spray foliage including the underside of leaves with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) - a natural bacterium targeting caterpillars.

Once the season is over - remove all leaf debris - this will reduce overwintering sites for eggs or pupae.


If you see some  – call us - don’t delay - they will eat the entire cabbage!


PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !







Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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