Cabbage Looper

Cabbage Looper

View more pictures: Bing Images Google Images Yahoo Images

Common names:  cabbage looper

Scientific name:  Trichoplusia ni

Region:  this Caterpillar can be found in the United States and Canada.

Life cycle:  This insect produces several generations each yearWinter is spent as a pupa attached to a leafThe adult emerges from the pupa in spring as a brown mothAlthough, in northern regions adults may south for the winter.

Physical Description: This 1 1/2 inch long caterpillar is green with pale stripes down the back and is identified by the characteristic way he humps along like a measuring wormThe adult is a brownish moth with a silvery spot in the middle of each forewing and flies at night with a wingspan of 1 1/2 inchesThe isolated round eggs are a greenish white and are laid on the upper surface of the host plant leaves.

Feeding characteristics: This pest will attack bean, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, kale, lettuce, parsley, pea, potato, radish, spinach, and tomato plants, by chewing the leaves.

Controls: The Trichogramma Wasp is a natural predator that can help control this caterpillarFor serious infestations, use Bacillus thuringiensis or dust with sabadilla.



Return from Cabbage Looper to Insects A-D Encyclopedia of Garden Insects

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.