Cabbage Worm Complex
CABBAGE LOOPER
- Egg
- Round
greenish-white
eggs
laid
singly
on leaf
surfaces.
- Larva
- Greenish
tapering
body with a
thin white
line along
each side of
body, and
1-1/2" long
when full
grown.
Has 6 pairs
of legs and
moves in a
looping
fashion.
- Pupa
- *Brownish
cocoon
attached to
leaf with
white
threads; 3/4"
long. Moths
migrate into
N.C. in May.
- Adult
- Grayish-brown, 1-1/2" long,
mottled
front wings
with silvery
spot near
middle of
each.
Nocturnal.
Lays 275-300 eggs.
- Number of generations
- 3 or more
- Damage
- Leaves
riddled
with large
holes of
irregular
shape and
size. May
stunt head.
IMPORTED CABBAGEWORM
- Egg
- Bullet-shaped, deep
yellow,
with
ridges
running both
lengthwise
and
crosswise and
laid
singly
on
leaves.
- Larva
- Velvety
green with
slender
orange strip
down
middle of
back and
along each
side; 1-1/4"
long when
full grown.
Has 8 pairs
of legs and
a slow and
even
movement.
- Pupa
- *Naked, tan
chrysalid
with sharp
angular
projections.
Usually
suspended
from plant or
object by tail
end and
encircled by
single loop
of silk
(girdle-like).
- Adult
- White with
3 or 4 black
spots on
wings.
Seen flying
around
plants
during the
day and
may lay
several
hundred
eggs.
- Number of generations
- 3 or 4
- Damage
- Leaves
riddled
with large
holes of
irregular
shape and
size. May
stunt head.
DIAMONDBACK MOTH
- Egg
- Minute,
yellowish-white
eggs
glued
to
leaves.
Either
1, 2 or
3 in a
place.
- Larva
- Pale
yellowish-green with
fine
scattered
erect black
hairs over
body and
1/3" long
when full
grown.
Has 8 pairs
of legs and
is very
active when
disturbed.
- Pupa
- Gauzy sack,
loosely spun,
3/8" long
and fastened
to underside
of leaf.
- Adult
- *Small
grayish
moths, 1/3"
long. Hind
wings have
a fringe of
hair. Male
has 3
diamond-shaped
spots on its
back which
appear
when wings
are folded.
- Number of Generations
- Many
- Damage
- Many
small
holes
eaten in
underside
of lower
leaves
(shot-hole
effect).
May
disfigure
buds of
young
plants.
*=passes winter
[Back to Vegetable Insect Note 12]