Cabbage and Cole Crop Insect Pest Update

Bill Hutchison and Eric Burkness, Extension Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.

Imported cabbageworm (ICW) and cabbage looper (CL) are now active in southern Minn. ICW overwinter in Minnesota; CL must migrate into the state each year from the southern U.S. Between the two pests, CL has the potential to do much more feeding damage. Diamondback moth (DBM) is typically more common on early plantings (May), and has not reached high infestation levels.

Cabbage looper adult

Cabbage looper larva

Thresholds are based on the pest and plant growth stage. The following thresholds have worked well in recent IPM implementation studies at Rosemount and Apple Valley, MN with Pahl’s Farms.

Plant Growth Stage	%Plants Infested	Pest Complex
Vegetative (pre-cupping)	10	CL
	30	ICW and/or DBM
Cupping/Head to Harvest	10	CL, ICW, and/or DBM

For more information on the performance of registered insecticides for control of larval pest complex in cabbage, see the October 22, 1999 article at: http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/mnvegnew/vol1/cab1014.htm

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, hutch002@tc.umn.edu
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us
Cindy Tong, Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, ctong@extension.umn.edu
Production Editor: Suzanne Wold, Research Specialist, University of Minnesota, woldx018@tc.umn.edu

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Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer

Last Revised July 20, 2000.
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