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cabbage moths and broccoli
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Posted by antesoo Victoria,Aust. (My Page) on Sun, Mar 20, 05 at 22:19
| Hi Folks, I have just looked out my window to see a whole flutter of white cabbage moths invading my broccoli, cabbages and brussel Sprouts....I have spent a portion of each day checking the undersides of the leaves for grubs but this invasion is going to wipe me out unless I spray ...why do the darn things have to tell each other!
Any suggestions as to a solution that won't destroy the good bugs in my garden?I had hoped to follow Jackie French's idea of planting some for the bugs ...but the darn things want the Lot!
Smiles Soo |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: cabbage moths and broccoli
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Dipel spray if you want to spray something. Apply it every 7 to 10 days and make sure you spray the underside of the leaves. Dipel is available at most nursery outlets. It's basically a bug that makes caterpillars sicken and die. Supposedly not harmful to other living creatures.
Maybe you could try the white plastic butterfly trick as well. Get some stiff white plastic and cut out butterfly shapes, stick 'em on spikes and decorate the brassica patch. Apparently the White Cabbage Butterfly thinks the patch is already overloaded and so they go off elsewhere. |
RE: cabbage moths and broccoli
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- Posted by antesoo Victoria,Aust. (My Page) on
Sun, Mar 20, 05 at 22:54
| Thanks Raymondo, I'll try the cut outs and see if I can trick em. I live remote from town and can't get in for a couple of weeks so the Dipel is out for now.I might try a soap spray and see if that helps too. |
RE: cabbage moths and broccoli
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Hello Antesoo,
As best as I can work it out, the cut out butterflies are to represent the males who hang about on the ground with their wings outstrecthed to attract a mate. The females intending to lay eggs have already mated and don't want to tango so will often leave the area if they think there is all these lusty males waiting. As the season cools down the adult butterflies will become far less active so soon not be much of a problem. Dipel is the spores of a soil born bacteria, and though closely related to the anthrax bacteria, considered harmless to us humans and the benificial bugs. Netting the plants from the adult butterflies can be very sucessful.
Neil |
RE: cabbage moths and broccoli
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| I've been using the plastic butterfly method for a few years and find it works well enough - mine are made from icecream containers and old wire coat hangers. Just wish it would work on snails too! Amanda |
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