Sasha CampbellIf small green caterpillars are chewing holes in your cabbage leaves, they may be cabbage loopers. Other caterpillars eat these plants too, so watch how they move. A cabbage looper arches its body into a loop as it crawls.
Cabbage loopers also feed on broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, and other cruciferous vegetables. If you want to get rid of cabbage loopers naturally, start by checking your plants often. This helps you find pests before they cause much damage.
What Do Cabbage Loopers Look Like?
Cabbage loopers are green caterpillars with a thin white stripe along each side and faint white lines along their backs. They pull their back legs toward their front legs, arching their bodies into a loop before moving forward [1].
Their eggs are tiny and pale green to white. You may find them on the top or underside of a leaf. The caterpillars chew uneven holes in leaves and may feed on cabbage heads.
Signs of Cabbage Loopers on Your Plants
Look for holes in leaves, green caterpillars that move in a loop, and small green droppings on the plant. Check both sides of the leaves and look between the leaves of a forming head.
Holes alone do not prove that cabbage loopers are the cause. Try to find the caterpillar before choosing a treatment.
When Should You Take Action?
Check your cabbage and other crops often, especially while they are young or starting to form heads. If you find a cabbage looper or eggs you can identify, you can remove them by hand.
A few holes do not always mean you need to spray. If you keep finding loopers or fresh damage, take another step to protect the plants. Sprays that target caterpillars tend to work best while the caterpillars are small [2].
How to Control Cabbage Loopers Naturally
Start by checking your plants and removing the pests you find. Then use a cover or a suitable spray if the problem continues.
1. Pick Off the Caterpillars
Look on both sides of the leaves and near the center of each plant. Pick off any loopers you find and drop them into a container of soapy water.
This can take time, but it is a useful first step in a small garden. Check again every few days for caterpillars you may have missed [2].
2. Remove the Eggs
Look for small, pale eggs on the leaves. Cabbage looper eggs may be laid alone or in small groups, on either side of a leaf [3].
If you are sure they are pest eggs, rub them off or remove that small part of the leaf. Check the plant again later, since moths can lay more eggs.
3. Cover Plants Before Moths Reach Them
A lightweight row cover or fine insect netting can keep cabbage looper moths from laying eggs on your crops. Cover plants with it when you sow seeds or set out young plants.
Check for eggs and caterpillars before covering the plants. Secure the edges so moths cannot get underneath. If you find caterpillars inside the cover, remove them [2].
4. Use Bt on Small Caterpillars
Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, is a bacterium used in some garden sprays. Look for a product labeled for caterpillars, such as one containing Bt kurstaki (Btk).
Spray the leaves as the label directs. Loopers must eat the treated leaves for it to work.
Bt is most useful when the caterpillars are still small. Check the label to see whether and when you need to spray again [2].
5. Encourage Helpful Insects
Some insects attack cabbage loopers or their eggs. Small parasitic wasps are among their natural enemies. These insects may help keep looper numbers down [4].
Grow a mix of flowering plants nearby. Avoid spraying the whole garden when only a few plants have pests, since sprays can harm helpful insects too.
6. Use Spinosad if Needed
Spinosad is an ingredient in some insect sprays that can control cabbage loopers. Choose a product labeled for your crop and follow its directions. It works best when caterpillars are small [5].
Spinosad can harm bees that come into contact with the spray. Do not spray flowers that bees visit. Spray when bees are not active, as the product label directs.
Some spinosad products are approved for organic growing, but this does not apply to every product.
7. Consider an Azadirachtin Product
Azadirachtin comes from the neem tree. Some products that contain it are labeled for cabbage loopers.
Molt-X and AzaGuard are examples of products that contain azadirachtin. You do not need to use both.
Check that the product is labeled for cabbage loopers and for the crop you want to treat, then follow its directions. If you grow certified organic crops, check whether your chosen product is allowed under your program [4].
8. Control Weeds That Host Loopers
Some weeds can give cabbage loopers another place to feed. These include wild mustard, pepper grass, and shepherd’s purse. Remove them from around your vegetable beds when you find them.
Weed control alone will not stop moths from reaching your garden, but it can be one useful part of your plan.
Do Home Remedies Work on Cabbage Loopers?
You may see advice to use garlic spray or diatomaceous earth. Do not count on them as your main way to control cabbage loopers.
Hand-picking, row covers, and a Bt product labeled for caterpillars are better starting points.
Be careful with homemade oil or soap sprays, too. A strong mix can harm leaves.
If you choose a pesticide, use a product labeled for the plant and pest, and follow its mixing and harvest directions.
Takeaway
First, make sure the green caterpillars are cabbage loopers. Then check your plants often and pick off the eggs and caterpillars you find.
Cover clean plants to keep moths out. If loopers keep feeding, a Bt product labeled for caterpillars is another option.
Finding the pests early gives you the best chance to protect your cabbage and other crops.
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