To understand how to get rid of a garden pest, I always like to start by trying to understand what I’m really trying to get rid of. In this case the cabbage worm. Cabbageworm is a general term used for four types of Lepidoptera. More specifically its larvae.
The Lepidoptera are an order of insects, a very large order, which includes insects such as the moth and the butterfly. These insects, as they are related to cabbage grubs, like to feed on cabbage and other cabbage crops. If you are growing broccoli, cauliflower, radish, or turnips, to name a few, you may encounter cabbage worms.
The four types of cabbageworms referred to are the imported cabbageworm, cabbageworm, cabbage webworm, and diamondback moth. If not handled early, they can literally cause massive amounts of damage that you may not be able to recover from in the same growing season.
As with many other harmful insects in the garden, you’ll want to start by finding out what their natural predators are. This will go a long way in ensuring that you keep your garden safe from harmful insecticides that could also kill off beneficial insects. The natural predators of the cabbageworm are parasitic wasps, soldier bugs, and lacewings.
To attract parasitic wasps, plant nectar-rich flowers in the garden, thyme, dill, summer savory, and other herbs. Dill, fennel, and coriander are great choices for luring lace wings. For soldier bugs, milkweed, goldenrod, and hydrangea work well.
Attracting profits can take some time, and if you’re inundated with them, time may be something you don’t have much of. There are a number of harmless sprays and recipes on the internet, such as pepper and garlic sprays. A Google search for the words “Pepper Spray” will return a lot. You can also buy over-the-counter sprays, such as Neem oil and Neem oil soap. They work well, but will need to be reapplied after rain or heavy watering.
Finally, there is diatomaceous earth. The downside to DE is that it affects all the insects in your garden. It does not distinguish between the good and the bad. Plus, it requires multiple applications and is best applied during dry times throughout the day.
A recent poll I read had cabbage worm as the number two culprit in home gardens. Rest ensures that there are a variety of solutions available to you, either for free or at a very low cost.