In extreme cases of infestation, mattresses may need replacing too. The more effective approach is to use traps and insecticides such as pyrethrins, in combination with other methods like vacuuming and steam cleaning. Moreover, when crushed they can release an unpleasant odour and leave behind small red-brown stains which could indicate an infestation. Entomologists note that crushing bed bugs or their eggs with your hands or an object will only offer temporary relief and may not always kill adults or eggs outright. However, it is not the best way to kill them. Watch this week’s video at /susansinthegarden.Yes, you can squish a bed bug. Susan Mulvihill is author of “The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook” and “The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook.” She can be reached at. I have not tried this yet but think it would be a fun experiment. Attach your cutouts to some twine suspended above the plants. Be sure to put two small black spots at the center of each forewing so it will look like a female (males only have a single black spot). You can also make decoys from the inside surfaces of empty milk cartons. Cover the butterflies on each side with clear plastic shipping tape, then cut out the shapes. The information indicated that female butterflies won’t deposit eggs where females of the same species are laying eggs.ĭo a web search for female cabbage white butterfly clip-art, copy a page’s worth of them to a blank document and print it out. ![]() It involves making butterfly decoys and placing them in the beds where you’re growing cabbage family crops. I recently read about an interesting alternative for repelling cabbage white butterflies. Be sure to spray both sides of the leaves but avoid spraying it on or near flowers. This product is easy to find at garden centers. These bacteria are harmless to humans but deadly to the caterpillar stage of insects. You can squish any eggs or caterpillars that you find or you can spray the plants with Bacillus thuringiensis, also known as Bt. If you don’t want to cover your crop, you still have options. I love creating a barrier because I don’t have to resort to using any sprays, organic or otherwise. Insect netting has a tiny mesh that keeps out insects and it’s easy to see through it to check on how plants are doing, rather than having to lift it off. To do this, I place hoops over the bed and suspend either floating row cover or agricultural insect netting on top of them.įloating row cover is a lightweight fabric that lets sunlight and moisture through it. My favorite method is to create a barrier that prevents the adults butterflies or moths and their offspring from getting onto the plants. There are a few ways to deal with these annoying insect pests. I’ve read that cabbage looper caterpillars also feed on lettuce, peas, potatoes and spinach but have never encountered them on those crops in my garden. As you might guess, they are attracted to cabbage family crops which include arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radishes, rutabagas and turnips. You’ll often see them on the undersides of a leaf, near the midrib. The females mate and lay eggs, which starts the cycle all over again.Įach species’ caterpillars are green and their feeding activities leave jagged holes in the leaves. They eventually create a cocoon to pupate in, then emerge as the adult form. After hatching, the larvae go through different stages of their life cycle while feeding on the host plant’s leaves. The adult female of each species lays eggs on plant leaves. Cabbage loopers are the offspring of the cabbage looper moth ( Trichoplusia ni), and diamondback caterpillars are the larval stage of diamondback moths ( Plutella xylostella). Cabbage worms are the larval stage of imported cabbage white butterflies ( Pieris rapae). ![]() There are three species of Brassica-munching caterpillars that Inland Northwest gardeners might encounter. But it’s not so delightful if your harvest is accompanied by a bunch of green caterpillars on the leaves. It is a treat to harvest and eat your very own homegrown broccoli and cabbage. The other two types (cabbage loopers and diamondback caterpillars) are actually the offspring of moths, which are nocturnal. In my column, I explain there are actually three types of “cabbage worms.” The cabbage white butterfly is pictured at left and is active during the day. I’ve written about aphids but thought you’d like to know more about the latter because a little bit of knowledge goes a long way! The primary culprits are aphids and cabbage worms. While today’s garden column might sound icky, I’m hoping you’ll find it interesting and helpful.Īs most folks know, cabbage family crops (also known as Brassicas) are quite prone to insect problems. This is the imported cabbage white butterfly.
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