Large green caterpillars are eating big ragged holes in my cauliflower and cabbage and boring into the heads, leaving green droppings. The damage is much bigger than the small caterpillars I usually see. Which pest is this?
Large green caterpillars eating ragged holes and boring into the curd or head with visible green frass are most likely cabbage butterfly larvae or the cabbage semilooper, bigger feeders than the tiny diamondback moth. Hand picking the large caterpillars in the morning is very effective on small plots. Set up the field with regular scouting, and spray biopesticides like Bt or spinosad which target caterpillars while sparing natural enemies. If pressure is high use a recommended insecticide such as emamectin benzoate or chlorantraniliprole, and rotate modes of action with the diamondback moth sprays so resistance does not build across both pests. Remove crop residue after harvest to cut the carryover. Because the curd is eaten fresh and the head hides the caterpillars, time sprays before heading and follow the label and pre-harvest interval. Confirm the species with your KVK if you are unsure, as the control overlaps with DBM management.
Hand picking the big ones early morning works for my small plot. They are slow and easy to spot before the sun is up.
Spraying before the curd forms is the trick. Once they bore into the head no spray reaches them.
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