WARNING – White Cabbage butterflies about, look out!
In Autumn & Spring, it really doesn’t take much to get disheartened growing produce, especially when the white butterflies and moths sweep in and drop their eggs on your lush green brassica crop.
White Cabbage Butterfly is white with distinct black spots on the wings and is around 40mm across. The Cabbage Moth is more grayish, small and around 10mm across. The butterflies and moths lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. When the eggs hatch they are very small caterpillars and it takes a few days before you realise they are present. One day you might see small holes, a few days later the caterpillars have grown and are eating through your lush green produce rather fast.
The Destructive Caterpillars
The White Cabbage Butterfly caterpillars are a blue-green colour with a smooth texture, while the caterpillars with the greeny-brown markings come from the Cabbage Moth.
So which plants are going to be targeted? I’m sure you guessed Cabbage, but you will also find them devouring broccoli, brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, celery, beetroot, rocket, and watercress.
Defense Measures
At first signs you need to stay vigilant, they will take your crop out if you let them.
- Check the underside of the leaves and remove them
- Companion planting: They dislike really strong herbs like dill, sage & coriander
- Predator bugs: Green mantis, paper wasps, lacewings and ladybirds
- They dislike insecticidal soaps (homemade)
- They are very territorial and don’t like other cabbage white butterflies or moths in their area
Over the years I’ve tried many different strategies, but by far the best strategy is defense. As soon as you notice the pretty butterflies fluttering around, head off to the hardware store a pick up a few essential items to defend your patch.
Marking Your Territory with Homemade Cabbage Butterflies
What you’ll need:
1 x piece of cord flute signboard (about $5 from Bunnings)
1 x pack of thin nails
1 x long piece of dowel cut into various lengths
1 x black permanent marker & pen
1 x template
hammer
Steps in making the white butterflies:
1: Make the template and trace it onto your core flute board
2: Cut out the shapes and add the spots
3: Attach the shapes to the end of the stakes with a nail. Tip: Put the nail through the shape before you hammer it onto the stakes.
4: Position around your leafy greens
