Cabbage looper

Caused by: Trichoplusia ni
Problem Category: Insect
Symptoms: Large or small holes in leaves; damage often extensive; caterpillars are pale green with a white lines running down either side of their body; caterpillars are easily distinguished by the way they arch their body when moving; eggs are laid singly, usually on the lower leaf surface close to the leaf margin, and are white or pale green in color
Comments: Cabbage looper can be identified by their characteristic "looping" movement in which they arch their body and bring the back portion of the body forward to meet the front
Management: Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies; if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants; biological controls such as spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis can be effective at controlling looper numbers; application of appropriate insecticide also controls looper populations; selective insecticides help to protect populations of natural enemies on crop
Control: Spray 5% Neem seed kernal extract to control the looper damage