The cabbage butterfly that has a scientific name Pieris cabbage, is classified as a lepidopteran, which means that this is a diurnal butterfly that causes damage to cabbage fields.
This is an insect that is regarded as an insatiable predator when it is in the caterpillar stage, because it uses the leaves as its food source, thus leaving the cabbages found in orchards without leaves.
How to eliminate or prevent the appearance of the cabbage butterfly?
It is important that we bear in mind that the only stage in the life of the cabbage butterfly that causes damage to cabbages is the caterpillar. Therefore, butterflies and their eggs do not feed on the leaves of the plant.
To know how to eliminate or prevent the appearance of this type of insect, we have to know more about its life cycle.
Cabbage butterfly life cycle
Adult Cabbage Butterfly: These are diurnal insects that they have white wings with some upper edges of black color as well as with some points of the same color if these are female.
Cabbage butterfly eggs: usually We find them on top of the leaves of the plant, especially on the underside, in small groups of a yellow color.
Cabbage caterpillars or larvae: When the eggs have hatched, these small larvae appear that have a black head, which we usually see attached to the cabbage leaves, by quite small threads that they use like a spider web to be able to adhere to the leaves, being here where the cabbage leaves are their food.
When these caterpillars are bigger, they turn green with stripes along their body that have a greenish yellow tone with some black dots on their back.
Chrysalis or pupa: After their larval stage, these caterpillars develop into a chrysalis, which in other words means that take the form of a cocoon that sticks to the plant or to the superficial part of the orchard, where it metamorphoses into an adult butterfly.
Symptoms of the appearance of the cabbage butterfly
What we usually observe when there is the presence of this insect in the garden are the numerous bites on cabbage leaves.
It is important to be vigilant and do a complete check on the leaves of each of the cabbage and cabbage plants, in order to find the person responsible for these damages. If we see some caterpillars that meet the characteristics mentioned above, we can be sure that it is the cabbage butterfly.
Apart from that we can see the black excrement on top of the leaves, which in turn are produced by caterpillars.
If we notice the presence of bites but do not observe the trace of the responsible insect, it may be snails or slugs. This type of insect is usually difficult to find during the day.
Treatment to eliminate the cabbage butterfly
Once we take into account that the damage produced by cabbage butterflies is external, it is advisable to use the products that come in the form of a spray or a powder on the surface of cabbage plants, although this is a product that is not the same in all its presentations, the best we can do is consult with an expert in pest control.
As well we can use some ecological treatment in order to eliminate this pest. For this, we can apply a neem oil as a kind of insecticide of natural origin, since this is one of the options that does not cause any damage or negative effect to the plants, because its main advantage is that it is not a product. toxic for humans or other animals.