Crops Affected: Primarily feeds upon cruciferous crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, collards, etc. However it will also readily consume other vegetables, flowers, field crops, and ornamentals.

States Affected: All of the lower 48 states

Life Cycle: The insect typically goes through two to seven generations per year, depending on the climate, with overlapping and indistinct generations. The full life cycle spans approximately 18 to 25 days. It is not tolerant of prolonged cold weather. After overwintering in southern latitudes, it annually reinvades most of the United States and all of Canada. Eggs are laid singly on leaf surfaces, occasionally forming clusters of six to seven eggs. Young larvae start as dusky white and turn pale green as they feed on foliage. Pupation occurs on the underside of foliage, in plant debris, or among soil clods, forming a white, fragile cocoon.

Damage: Cabbage loopers primarily feed on the lower leaf surface during their first three instars, leaving the upper surface undamaged. During the fourth and fifth instars, they create large holes in the leaves, typically avoiding the leaf margins. In cabbage, they may also bore into the developing head. The larvae can consume plant material three times their weight daily. Feeding sites are characterized by significant amounts of sticky, wet fecal matter.

Season to Trap: March through August. Regions with warm winters may differ.

How To Use: Hang trap with lure inside at shoulder height near at risk or affected crops. Replace lures every 30 days through the season, and replace traps when 70% saturated. Adult males are attracted to the pheromones in the lure and the color of the traps in this kit. Once they land on the sticky trap, they become ensnared, never to mate or lay eggs again.

Additional IPM Solutions: Avoid practices that destroy or disrupt native beneficial insects. Use B.t., neem, insecticidal soap, pyrethrins, and spinosad as effective insecticides. Opt for early maturing varieties and less susceptible cruciferous crops like red cabbage. Implement row covers for protection. Practice fall field sanitation to prevent overwintering. Hand-pick larvae and eggs to manage infestations.