Cabbage Looper Trichoplusia ni

Lepidoptera: Pieridae and Noctuidae

Identification
• Green caterpillars are up to 1" long.
• Imported cabbageworms appear velvety. (a)
• Cabbage loopers push the center of the body up into a large loop when they move. (front cover)
• Imported cabbageworm adults are white butterflies with 2" wingspans, and fly during the day. (b)
• Cabbage looper adults are brown moths that fly at night.

Damage
• Caterpillars eat holes in the leaves and heads of cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard, and kohlrabi.

Management
• Spray or dust with bacterial insecticide if damage or adult butterflies are present.

Other Information
• Imported cabbageworm is attacked by parasitic wasps. These are seen as a yellowish mass of cocoons lying next to a dead caterpillar.