Choose your location
Choisissez votre emplacement

Crucifer Caterpillars

Crucifer caterpillars (cabbage whites, loopers and others) are the larval stages of various moths and butterflies that attack plants in the Brassicaceae family (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, radish, mustard, etc.). These soft-bodied larvae are typically green and blend in with foliage, making them hard to detect at first. As they feed, they chew irregular holes in leaves, bore into heads or florets, and contaminate produce with frass (insect droppings).

Infestations can reduce both yield and marketability, as leafy greens and cole crops lose their commercial value once damaged. Severe feeding can also stunt plant growth and make crops more susceptible to secondary infections.

Recognize the signs of infestation

Scout regularly for larvae and chewing damage. Pheromone traps monitor adult moths.

  • Feeding damage on leaves: Small to large irregular holes, often starting on the underside of young leaves.
  • Frass deposits: Green or brown droppings on leaves and within cabbage heads or broccoli florets.
  • Presence of larvae: Green caterpillars (looping movement in cabbage loopers; smooth, velvety appearance in imported cabbageworms; tiny, diamondback moth larvae wriggling when disturbed).
  • Skeletonized leaves: In severe cases, only veins remain.
  • Bored florets/heads: In broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage, larvae hide inside the produce, making it unmarketable.

Our IPM Solution

Bioprotec PLUS

Bioprotec PLUS

Bioprotect PLUS is a foliar bio-insecticide that kills caterpillars containing a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki. Available for commercial production only.

Buy
Chrysoperla carnea

Chrysoperla carnea

Chrysoperla carnea is an essential predator in agricultural crops and gardens, providing natural pest control by consuming large numbers of aphids, thrips and whiteflies. With…

Buy
Nabis americoferus

Nabis americoferus

Nabis americoferus, also known as the Damsel bug, possess well-developed piercing-sucking mouthparts and spiny, raptorial front legs, which they use for capturing prey. Both nymphs…

Buy
Leek moth trap

Leek moth trap

Keep your greenhouses protected from unwelcome pest intruders with traps. An easy, non-toxic solution to manage infestations quickly and effectively!

Buy
Podisus maculiventris

Podisus maculiventris

The predatory Podisus maculiventris bug serves as a powerful yet eco-friendly biological control agent against destructive caterpillar and beetle pests that threaten greenhouse and field…

Buy
Tricho-Mix®

Tricho-Mix®

Tricho-Mix® are the right tool for growers who wish to stop defoliators from devastating their crops, Trichogrammes offer a powerful solution. These parasitoids target destructive…

Buy
Tricho-Gard® - Crucifers

Tricho-Gard® - Crucifers

Tricho-Gard® - Crucifers - Trichogramma brassicae - has been a preferred strategy for many years, offering crucifer producers an effective and sustainable method of pest…

Buy