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The cabbage scoop is a polyphagous pest that can destroy a significant part of cabbage plantings because it prefers to attack all cruciferous crops. Belongs to the class of insects, the family of scoops. To protect cabbage beds, you need to know the features of the development of the pest and methods of dealing with it.
What is dangerous caterpillar cabbage scoop
To begin with, it is worth briefly familiarizing yourself with the pest itself – the cabbage scoop. This is the name of the butterfly, although its larvae represent a danger in the garden. It is rather nondescript, it has large wings with denticles along the edges. The color of the scoop is grayish-brown, the fecundity is very high.
The nondescript appearance of a butterfly should not cause gardeners to feel safe for cabbage
While the cabbage is growing in the garden, the pest can give 2 or 3 offspring. But the number of eggs in a clutch directly depends on the region. In areas with a cold climate, this happens only 1 time. The southern regions suffer more, where the scoop lays its eggs again.
The main harm to plants is caused by scoop larvae at night, during the day they have time to rest. Therefore, it is difficult to notice the eggs and caterpillars of the pest during daylight hours. The butterfly lays its eggs on the inside of the cabbage leaves and it will not be possible to detect this dangerous focus without injuring them. Greenish larvae first scrape tissue on the underside of the cabbage leaf, then begin to gnaw holes of various shapes on them.
Particular attention should be paid to measures to combat voracious caterpillars.
After the appearance of the scoop, only thick veins remain on the leaves. On young seedlings of cabbage seedlings, the pest gnaws off the stem, and the plant dies.
During the day, scoop caterpillars gather at the very base of the cabbage head. When autumn comes, they actively penetrate into the cabbage head, gnaw through passages and pollute the head with excrement. Such specimens are no longer suitable for storage and consumption.
Having penetrated the core, the caterpillar moves towards the stalk, eating away the inside of the vegetable along the way. A fork may appear relatively healthy on the outside, but be empty on the inside.
The cabbage scoop hibernates in the ground at a depth of up to 1 m.
Signs of a cabbage scoop
Knowing the biological characteristics of the development of the scoop will help determine the time of appearance of the pest. Butterflies appear on the site in late May or early June. Immediately start laying eggs. After 10-12 days, caterpillars (larvae) will appear from them, which will complete their development within 3,5 to 7 weeks. The first generation of cutworms will pupate in late June, the next in October. Then the pupae will overwinter, and butterflies will appear on the site again. Orienting in the stages of development of the pest, you can notice its appearance on the site in time:
- At the stage of seedling growth, cabbage cutworm caterpillars gnaw on the stems of seedlings. As soon as fallen plants are noticed in the garden, it means that the scoop larvae have already appeared and attacked the cabbage.
- As soon as heads of cabbage begin to be tied, places with eaten juicy pulp appear on the leaves. Only thick veins remain – these are traces of third-age scoop caterpillars.
If you do not take action on time, the cabbage may lose the bulk of the leaves.
The listed signs indicate to the vegetable grower that there is a pest on the cabbage beds.
How to deal with cabbage scoop
This process is quite complicated. To defeat the enemy of cabbage, different methods of struggle are used:
- agrotechnical;
- mechanical;
- biological;
- chemical.
In addition, folk methods and preventive measures are very effective. Such a number of techniques is due to the fact that the fight against the cabbage scoop has to be carried out at any stage of development.
Measures to combat the cabbage scoop folk remedies
Similar methods are used by vegetable growers who prefer environmentally friendly formulations or preparations. The main component in recipes against cabbage scoops is herbs with a specific aroma or spices. From a large list of funds, you need to highlight the current and proven ones:
- Hot pepper. You can take fresh (100 g) or dried (20 g) pods. Raw materials pour water (1 l) and boil for 1 hour. Filter, insist 2 days in a sealed container. Before processing cabbage, dilute the resulting volume of solution in 10 liters of water.
- Wormwood. Collect the grass in the flowering phase, before preparing the solution, chop the color and the stems. Boil 10 liters of water, add 350 g of crushed raw materials, leave for 6 hours. To increase the effectiveness of the remedy against the scoop, you need to add 1 tbsp. l. liquid soap. Spray the plants 2 times with an interval of 14 days. You can cook wormwood in another way. Insist 100 g of dry bird droppings in 3 liters of water for 2 days. Then boil 3 kg of wormwood in 1 liters of water for at least 15 minutes. Strain the manure and wormwood, combine the compositions, add water to a volume of 10 liters. Spray cabbage 2 times in 7 days.
In addition to infusions against cabbage scoops, aromatic traps work well. You need to put a bait in them, for example, sweet jam or fermented jam, set not far from the garden. These can be plastic cups, which are important to place at a distance of 1 m from the ridges where the pest is seen. The mixture must be added as it evaporates, after 2 weeks, replace with a new portion.
Some gardeners prefer wood ash infusion (1 glass) + tobacco leaves (200 g) + mustard powder (15 g) + liquid soap (30 g). Mix the components, pour boiling water (19 l), leave for a day.
To save heads of cabbage, gardeners should start the fight well in advance of their formation.
Biological preparations against cabbage scoop
Manufacturers produce a large line of biologics against fall armyworm for use in the field. The main advantage of such tools is safety. This applies to humans and garden crops. Each package contains instructions for use, which allows you to correctly process the cabbage. It is important to remember that the drug should first be diluted in a small amount of water. The second condition is that the last treatment against cutworms must be no later than 5 days before the start of heading. Fitoverm, Lepidocid, Biostop, Bitoxibacillin are used.
Read the instructions for use carefully before processing.
Another modern biological method is the use of insects – trichograms. These hymenoptera lay their eggs inside the eggs of the cabbage cutworm, which destroys the pest.
Chemical preparations against cabbage scoops
Chemicals are also used to control pests. They are very justified with large areas of cultivation and a strong distribution of cutworms. Use drugs strictly according to the instructions and with the implementation of precautionary measures:
- Inta-Vir, Iskra-M – take 10 tablet per 1 liters of water;
- Sherpa – for 1 bucket of clean water 1,5 ml.
There is a group of insecticides of selective action (pyrethroids), to which the scoop does not become addictive. This is Fury, Decis, Karate. There is also a list of neonicotinoids safe for animals and humans – Aktara, Mospilan, Tanrek, Konfidor. They quickly decompose in the ground.
Of the long-standing proven pest control agents, dust (5%) and pyrethrum powder are used. Fas, Zeta, Decis, Kinmiks are recommended for early cabbage. For summer treatments, Zolon, Danadim, Dursban are more suitable.
There are general rules for working with insecticides:
- spray on a windless day;
- apply at sunset;
- use no more than 2 times during the growing season of cabbage;
- 1 month before harvest, stop processing.
Be sure to check the degree of danger of drugs, use personal protective equipment.
Against the cabbage scoop, you can use insecticides that are suitable for the method of application, have an affordable price
Prevention of the appearance of cabbage scoops
Pest control measures are always effective. Among the available for vegetable growers, we can distinguish:
- Agrotechnical – deep autumn plowing in the fields, cultivation of row spacing in the garden (especially during egg laying), high-quality weeding.
- Folk – regular inspection of cabbage, manual collection of caterpillars, laying out baits, preventive spraying with infusion of herbs.
Digging the soil in spring eliminates the pupae of the pest and prevents the emergence of a large number of butterflies. Autumn digging also fights with pupae, but clods should not be broken.
Gardeners always share extraordinary ways to deal with cabbage scoops:
Conclusion
The cabbage scoop is a malicious pest. However, timely and competent actions to destroy it are within the power of any gardener. Subject to the recommendations, it is quite possible to cope with the cabbage scoop.