Well it had to happen. More insects have attacked the plants in my garden. My second year hollyhocks are the lastest victims of an insect known as the cabbage looper. Eventhough their name is cabbage looper that doesn’t mean they will stop there. They like all sorts plants in the crucifer group like broccoli, collards, kale, and cauliflower as well as other vegetables in the cucurbit family. (For a more complete list visit the Univeristy of Florida’s Entomology page on Cabbage Loopers) Now this little green worm may not seem like much when you look at him but when you consider that he can eat up to three times his weight each day and that he usually tags along with 300-600 newly hatched larvae of his closest friends the damage can be decimating.
This is how they start, munching on the juicy green foliage of the host plant. In this case they are on my second year hollyhocks. On any one leaf I counted 10-15 larvae at any time.
They work their way through the plants leaves to get enough energy to sustain their transformation into cabbage moths.
Leaving behind leaves on your favorite ornamentals and vegetables that look like this:
Not a pretty sight is it? This hollyhock wasn’t intended to be a lace leaf variety. When I finally caught the cabbage worms I applied an insecticidal soap that contains neem oil which works as a feeding deterrent and as a growth regulator. Quite frankly I just want them dead and gone. (These worms also targeted a rose bush we have in the front garden. They have not made me very happy.) I did use a very effective if somewhat time consuming method when I first saw them, I call it thumbicide. Just take the little worms between your thumb and forefinger (I used gloves) and squeeze tightly. (If you’re angry enough this may help you channel that anger!) If that is a little too icky for you consider using Bacillus thuringiensis or BT for short. It’s a bacteria that is harmless to people but not to insect larvae. Another option is simple prevention. If you have a large crop of cabbage invest in row covers to prevent the moths from laying their eggs in the first place! I checked my one cabbage plant that came up from seed and found a small infestation there as well, you can bet I’ll be definding my cabbage. I’ve got a batch of coleslaw that is depending on my fortitude!
Insects are just one of the many challenges in gardening, frustrating yes, but figuring out how to deal with them will make you a better gardener!
For more information on their control and lifecycle go to the University of Florida’s Cabbage Looper Information Page.
To help fend off cabbage loopers from vegetable crops try this from Gardener’s Supply:
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| Pop-Up Pest Control Nets |
Thumbicide has to be a new term and well coined! Works for me. I do hope those pests go away soon!
I have found that attracting wrens to the garden help tremendously in keeping these little green worms at bay. I put up 5 wren houses this year, and have at least 3 nesting pair that I have seen. They’re always hopping around in the flowerbeds under the plants. I’ve seen a few cabbage worms one day, but the next they’re gone thanks to the wrens.
Poor hollyhocks. I wonder if that’s what’s eating mine. I have the same skeleton look, especially on the seedlings I just transplanted. I think I need to head out with some insecticidal soap today, the bugs are attacking everything now.
I put grub type worms in a plastic tray for the birds to eat! They love the treat! But this type may crawl out of the container. Ick, I do the pinch method also as I dont want too many pesticides in the yard for the wildlife. My cabbage is being nibbled by something but have yet to catch the culprit! Good Luck with that Cole slaw and I hope to make some as well. I think we all need a little of that luck for the cabbage as it seems to be a favorite for the pests….
It appears that the insects and worms are much earlier this year than in the past…..I am finding all types of critters..and where they have been.
“Thumbicide”…gross! Thanks for the info on looper worm–I’ve seen their work before but had no idea what could cause such artful damage.
It’s amazing how gardening is able to draw out my more violent tendencies… LOL
~Faith
Violent tendencies, like rage. How awful to work so hard & then have some icky worm or bug eat it all up.
Leaf rollers on my beans—just have to thumbicide them.