Cabbage caterpillars

From late spring onward, various moths and butterflies, such as the large cabbage white, may lay their eggs on brassica plants. The resulting caterpillars can be picked off by hand, if wasps have not removed them first. 

These hatch from eggs laid in clusters on the underside of leaves by the large cabbage white butterfly. If too numerous to pick off one by one, remove the whole leaf Wasps love caterpillars, and may remove them all for you. 

Hydroxydanaidal has been extracted from coremata (Krasnoff and Roelofs, 1989). Like the cabbage looper moth, the salt marsh caterpillar moth has a dual signaling system, but in the case of E. acrea both males and females are attracted, leading to aggregations. 

Carboxylesterases are responsible for the selective toxicity of malathion that favors mammals over insects. Carboxylesterase hydrolyzing trans-permethrin has been found in numerous insect species, including the fall armyworm, velvetbean caterpillar (Anticar-sia gemmatalis), cabbage looper (Trichoplnsia ni), tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), and spined soldier bug (Podisus maculwentris) (Yu, 1990). 

In addition to problems outlined in the cabbage entry, a combination of cold injury and viral disease can cause leaves with black specks. Destroy infected plants. Caterpillars will bore small holes into sprouts see Leaves with large, ragged holes on page 56 for more details and controls. Plants deficient in potassium have poorly developed sprouts Spray with seaweed extract at transplanting and repeat several times to prevent problems. Check potassium levels with a soil test, and amend as necessary. 

Other caterpillars, such as cabbage loop-ers and beet armyworms, sometimes feed on tomato leaves. Handpick or spray plants with BTK if many caterpillars are feeding. 

Beneficial Effect Excellent predators of many caterpillar pests, including cutworms, armyworms, tent caterpillars, cabbage loopers, and gypsy moth larvae some also attack sawflies. squash bugs, and stink bugs. 

Figure 46 3-Nitropropanoic acid esters (193-195) from chrysomelid beetles and pinoresinol (35) from caterpillars of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae.

Pinoresinol (35) was found as a minor constituent of the defensive secretion produced by caterpillars of the cabbage butterfly, P. rapae. Pinoresinol enhances the deterrent properties of the secretion s major components, the fatty acid-derived mayolenes (see Section 2.04.4). Interestingly, pinoresinol could not be detected in the caterpillar s cabbage diet, suggesting that perhaps other plant lignans serve as precursors. ... 

Ignoffo CM, Boucias DB. Relative activity of geographical isolates of Nomuraea bioassayed against the cabbage looper and velvetbean caterpillar. J Invertbr Pathol 59 215-217, 1992. 

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