Count down to Expo!

        The Imported Cabbageworm (Pieris Rapae) first appeared in North America in 1860 at Quebec City. After first being discovered it spread rapidly through most of north America. The complete life cycle of the Imported Cabbageworm requires about three to two weeks depending on the weather. Cabbage worms lay eggs on leaves of plants that larvae will consume. Eggs of the Pieris Rapae are 0.5mm in width and 1mm in length. Their eggs are white when they are first laid, and then turn into a pale yellow. Larva of the
Pieris Rapae are usually green and velvety in appearance. The larvae also possess five pairs of prolegs. After the larva hatch from their eggs, they will feed on the leaves of the plant that they were laid on.

        These insects have very devastating impacts on vegetable garden and flower garden plants alike. Cabbageworm larvae feed on the leaves of foliage, along with other vegetables. The Cabbageworm can take many plants as hosts for their eggs and larvae, including broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, horseradish, and collard.  Cabbageworm's will also consume the leaves of nasturtium and sweet alyssum flowers.

         Signs that a Cabbageworm is targeting a plant include discovering jagged holes in plant leaves, or collections of pale yellow eggs at the base of plant leaves. When Cabbageworm's hatch and turn into larvae, they will also burrow into vegetables, and leave small holes in the body of the vegetable. The cabbageworm is most commonly found on the underside of a plant's leaves. When there are too many holes in a plant's leaves, it decreases the plants ability to photosynthesize, resulting in it dying.

        A natural way to deter a cabbage worm from attacking certain plants is to plant other crops around one. For example, cabbage worms attack cabbage, but if you plant onions and tomatoes around the cabbage, it is known those plants naturally deter cabbage worms.