controlling cabbage pests

8/13/2019 Controlling Cabbage Pests

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Cabbage Insects, How To Control Them in the Home Garden 1978 --Reid, W. J., EntomologistCuthbert, F. P. Jr., EntomologistVegetable Insects Laboratory

Charleston, SCAgricultural Research ServiceHome and Garden Bulletin 44, USDA, 1 9548 pagesListed as issued July 1978

Archive copy of publication, do not use for current recommendations.

The PDF file was provided courtesy of the National Agricultural Library.

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n

^CABBAGE

HOW TO CONTROL THEM INTHE HOME G RDEN

UNITED STATESDEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE

HOME A ND P R E P R E D BYGARDEN BULLETIN SC IENCE A NDNUMBER 44 EDUC TION

DMINISTR TION


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Insects reduce yield and quality of cabbage in home

gardens throughout the country. Some feed on stalksand roots, and some on the leaves; others suck juicefrom the plants.

The insects that attack cabbage also attack relatedplants broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts,collards, and kohlrabi .

Use of the right pesticide at the right time will pre-vent damage to cabbage and related plants, but no onepesticide will control all the insects.

The chart shows what insecticide to use, how to pre-pare it, and how to apply it. Other control measures aresuggested in this publication.

Kinds of cabbage insectsmost commonly found

1 Those that feed on stalks and roots

Soil-inhabiting cutworms are dull gray, brown, or

nea r ly b lack caterpi l lars . Some are spotted, othersstriped. They hide in the soil during the day and comeout at night to feed. They often cut off cabbage stalksnear the soil surface.

Mole crickets are light velvety brown to blackish.They resemble field crickets slightly. They have short,s tou t fo re legs and shovellike feet. Their burrowinguproots seedlings and causes soil to dry out quickly.

oot maggots are legless, yellowish-white larvae offlies. They tunnel stems and roots. The cabbage maggotis the species most destructive to cabbage.

General suggestions on use of pesticides

If as much as 1/2 inch of rain falls within 24 hoursafter an pesticide is applied , repeat the application.

If the

pesticide is

applied directly to the

plants, besure that all parts of the plants get a light, uniform

coating.Dust when plants are moist and the air is stillusu-

ally in early morning or late afternoon.Don't try to spray when a wind is blowing.Avoid unnecessarily heavy dosages.Sprays applied to the plants should contain a small

quantity of neutral soap or a proprietary wetting agent.


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PN-5212Larva of the diamondback moth. The harlequin bugAbout 6 times natural size About 4 times natural size

2 Those that feed chiefly on leaves

Caterpillars

Imported cabbageworms also known as commoncabbageworms, are velvety green. They have an orangestripe dow n the m idd le of the back and a yellow stripealong each side.

Cabbage loopers often called measuring worms, arepale green. They have several light, lengthwise stripes.They crawl by doubling up, or forming a loop, thenprojecting the front part of the body forward.

Diamondback moth caterpillars are pale green, andare pointed at each end.

Climbing cutworms look much like soil-inhabitingcutworms.

Cabbage webworms are grayish yellow , and have fivebrownish-purple lengthwise stripes. Their heads are


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3 hose that suck juice from the plants

Aphids or plant lice, are soft-bodied insects. Thecabbage aphid is green to powdery blue, and is coveredwith a whitish wax. The turn ip aphid is green, or greenand black. The feeding of aphids distorts leaves andcauses them to curl downward; it may stunt the plantsand make them unfit for use.

Harlequin bugs are shield-like in shape, black, andabout 3/ 8 inch long. They are marked with red and yel-low. Their feeding causes plants to wilt and turn brown.

Stink bugs are like harlequin bugs in shape and size,but they are green or brown. They damage plants in thesame way that harlequin bugs do.

Applicators

In small gardens, use a plunger-type hand duster or abellows duster for dusting plants, and a hand atomizeror compressed-air sprayer for spraying. In hand atom-izers, use only all-liquid pesticides. In large gardens, usea hand-operated crank duster, or a knapsack sprayer.

Hand atomizers and compressed-air sprayers are notequipped with an agitator. Shake the container fre-quently to keep the pesticide well mixed. Be sure thatthe pressure is exhausted from compressed-air sprayersbefore opening the lid.

USE OF PESTICIDES

This publication is intended for nationwise distribu-tion. Pesticides are registered by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) for countrywide use unlessotherwise indicated on the label.

The use of pesticides is governed by the provisions ofthe Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and RodenticideAct, as amended. This Act is administered by EPA.According to the provisions of the Act, It shall beunlawful for any person to use any registered pesticidein a manner inconsistent with its labeling. (Section

EPA has interpreted this Section of the Act torequire that the intended use of the pesticide must be onthe label of the pesticide being used or covered by aPesticide Enforcement Policy Statement (PEPS) issuedby EPA.

The optimum use of pesticides, both as to rate andfrequency, may vary in different sections of the country.Users of this publication may also wish to consult their


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CONTROL With PESTI IDES Use This Chart To Select A Pesticide That Will

PESTICIDE AMOUNT AND PREPARATION

Control th e Cabbage Insects in Your Garden

APPLICATION

SOIL-INHABITING CUTWORMS

DUST: 10-percent toxaphene % pound p er 1,000 square feet. Apply to soil before planting if cutworms are present . . .S P R AY S : 40-percent toxaphene wettable powder 6 level tablespoonfuls in 2 gallons of water for each 1,000 Af t e r planting, apply to soil around and between plants. See

square feet. Use of Pesticides.60-percent toxaphene emulsifiable concentrate. 2 tab.espoonfuls in 2 gal.ons of water for each 1,000 square Spregd by

on the soj| _ not on the plants _ n |gte gfter _

BAIT: Ready-mixed bait containing 3 percent of toxa- ' noon,phene 1 pound per 1,000 square feet (40 pounds per acre).

MOLE CRCKETS ~

GRANULES: 14-percent Diazinon 21 2 ounces per 1,000 square feet. Mix granules or spray into upper 1 to 2 inches of soil, 1 to 5S P R AY S : 50-percent Diazinon wettabl e powder 3 level tablespoonfuls in V z gallons of water per 1,000 days before planting.

square feet.48-percent Diazinon emulsifiable concentrate.. 4 teaspoonfuls in 21 2 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet.

ROOT MAGGOTS ON BROCCOL . BRUSSELS SPROUTS. CABBAGE. CAULFLOWER) ~

50-percent diazinon wettable powder in transplant wa ter .... 2 level teaspoonfuls per gallon water. Apply % to 1 cupful where each plant is set.48-percent diazinon emulsifiable concentrate in transplant

water 1 teaspoonful per gallon water.

GRANULES: 14-percent diazinon 1 2 pound per 1,000 square feet. Apply before seeding or transplanting and work into upperS P R AY S : 50-percent diazinon wettable powder 1 2 cupful in 21 2 gallons of water p er square feet. 2 to 4 inches of soil.

48-percent diazinon emulsifiabl e concentrat e 4 level tablespoonfuls in V z gallons of water per 1,000 squarefeet.

CATERPILLARS

DUST: 4-percent malathion 11 2 ounces for each 50 feet of row. Apply one of these dusts or sprays as soon as insects appear.S P R AY S : 2.5-percent Bacillus thuringiensis wettable Start webworm control on late-summer and fall plantings as

powder 2 level tablespoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet soon as the f i rs t true, or crinkly, leaves appear. Repeat appli-of row. cation weekly as long as needed. Do not apply malathion to

3.2-percent Bacillus thuringiensis 2 level teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet broccoli withi n 3 days before harvest, or to other crops withinof row. days before harvest. Do not apply naled within 4 days

6-percent Bacillus thuringiensis suspension before harvest. See Use of Pesticides.concentrate 4 teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row.

50- to 57-percent malathion emulsifiab le con-centrate 2 teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row.

8 pounds-per-gallon naled emulsifiable con-centrate 11 a teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row.

HARLEQUIN BUGS AND STINK BUGS

DUST 4-percent carbaryl (Sevin) or 4-percentnaled 1 to 11 2 ounces for each 50 feet of row. Apply when insects first appear. Do not apply carbar yl to

S P R AY S : 50-percent carbary l wettable powder 3 level tablespoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet collar ds or kale within 14 days or to other cole cr ops withinof row. 3 days before harvest. Do not apply naled within 4 days

8 pounds-per-gallon naled emulsifiable con- before harvest. See Use of Pesticides.centrate 1 V z teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row.

APHiDS

DUST: 4-percent malathion (see Use of Pesti cides. ) 11 2 ounces for each 50 feet of row. Make the first application as soon as the aphids appear. Re-SPRAYS: 50- to 57-percent malathion emulsifiable con- peat weekl y until they are no longer present. ... Do not apply

centrate (see Use of Pesticides. ) 2 teaspoonful s in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row. malathion to broc coli w i th in 3 days before harvest or to

8 pounds-per-gallon naled emulsifiable con- other cole crops withi n 7 days before harvest. Do not applycentrate 11 2 teaspoonfuls in 1 gallon of water for each 200 feet of row. naled within 4 days before harvest. See Use of Pesticides.

Coopera t ive Ex tens ion Service, State AgriculturalExperiment Stations, or County Extension Agents forinformation applicable to their localities.

The pesticides mentioned in this publication areavailable in several different formulations that containvarying amounts of active ingredient. Because of thisdifference, the rates given in this publication refer to theamount of active ingredient, unless otherwise indicated.Users are reminded to convert the rate in the publica-tion to the strength of the pesticide actually being used.For example, 1 pound of active ingredient equals 2pounds of a 50 percent formulation.

The user is cautioned to read and follow all directionsand precautions given on the label of the pesticide for-

mulation being used.Federal an d State regulations require registration

numbers on all pesticide containers. U se only pesticidesthat carry one of these registration numbers.

USDA publications that contain suggestions for theuse of pesticides are normally revised at 2-year inter-vals. If your copy is more than 2 years old, contact yourCooperative Extension Service to determine the latestpesticide recomm endations.

Th e pesticides mentioned in this publication were fed-erally registered for the use indicated as of the issue ofthis publication. Th e user is cautioned to determine thedirections on the label or labeling prior to use of thepesticides.


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SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS

Toxa phene can be absorbed through the skin inharmful quantities. Avoid spilling it on your skin andkeep it out of your eyes, nose, and mouth.

If you spill any on your skin, wash it off immediatelywith soap and water. If you spill any on your clothing,remove the clothing immediately and wash your skin

thoroughly. Launder the clothing before wearing itagain.Do not apply toxaphene to leafy vegetables after the

appearance of plant parts that will be eaten.Do not apply naled or diazinon to kohlrabi.

Other control measuresTransplant spring crops as early as possible. Space

the plants uniformly along the row and far enoughapart to allow pesticides to reach all parts of the plants.

Apply pesticide before transplanting infested plantsor thinning an infested planting.

Harvest the cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi plantsas soon as they are ready for use; destroy plants that arenot to be used.... Get rid of weeds in and around thegarden; they harbor insects.... Keep your garden wellfertilized, well irrigated, and as disease free as possible.

Y ou can protect transplants from soil-inhabiting cut-worms by placing a stiff cardboard collar, 3 incheshigh, around each plant. Put it 1 / 2 inch away from thestalk as soon as plants are set out. Push it 1 inch intothe soil.

Prepared by Frank P. Cuthbert, Jr. and W. J. Reid, Jr. l

'SEA Research Entomologists, Retired, Vegetable Insects Labora-tory, Charleston, South Carolina.

Issued July 1978On January 24, 1978, four U S D A agenciesAgricul-

t u r a l R e s e a r c h S e r v i c e ( A R S ) , C o o p e r a t i v e S ta teResearch Service (CS R S), E xten sion Service (ES), andthe National Agricultural Library (NAL)merged tobecome a new organization, the Science and Educat ionAdministrat ion (SEA), U.S. Department of Agricul-ture.

This publ ica t ion was prepared by the Science andE d u c a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ' s Federal Research staff,which was formerly th e Agricultural Research Service.

Department publications contain public information.They are not copyrighted and can be reproduced inwhole or in par t with or wi thout credit.

Trade names are used in this publication solely fo rthe purpose of providing specific information. Ment ionof a trade nam e does not constitute a guarantee or war-ranty of the product by the U . S. Department of Agri-culture over o ther products not mentioned.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfficeWashington, D.C. 20402

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