Cabbage moth ( lat. Plutella xylostella ) is a species of butterflies from the family Soptera moth ( Plutellidae ), a pest of cruciferous cultures. It is widespread everywhere, but the forest-steppes and steppes cause the greatest harm.
| Cabbage Mole | ||||||||||||||
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| Plutella xylostella ( Linnaeus , 1758) | ||||||||||||||
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Wingspan of 12-16 millimeters, color from gray-brown to dark brown. On the front wings there is a wavy white or yellowish strip. The egg is oval, 0.4–0.5 millimeters long and 0.2–0.3 millimeters wide, with small dots on the surface. Caterpillar of the first age with almost no pigmentation, the head is dark brown. Older caterpillars are green to dark brown in color. Older caterpillar length is 7-11 millimeters. A pupa 7 millimeters long, at first pale green, then darkens. Located in a silvery-white loose cocoon, sufficiently firmly attached to the substrate. Cocoon length - 8, width - 2-2.5 millimeters.
Pupae and partly butterflies winter. Summer begins in April. Butterflies fly mostly at dusk, feeding on nectar of cabbage plants. Oviposition lasts 10–20 days. Females lay 1–4 eggs on the lower side or leaf stalk. The full development cycle of the moth lasts 30–35 days. The sum of effective temperatures for the complete development cycle of a single generation is 390–410 ° С. During the year it develops in 4-5 generations. The flight of the next generation of butterflies is superimposed on the previous one and lasts from late April to mid-September.
More than 40 species of moth entomophages are known. In some years, they are able to destroy up to 90% of larvae and pupae of the pest. The main species are nitobia ( Nitobia fenestralis Holmgr, Nitobia armillata B.), diadromus ( Diadromus subtilicornis Gran., Diadromus ustulatus Holmgr), apanteles ( Apanteles futliginosus Wesm., Apanteles vestalis Hal.). In eggs, species of the genus Trichogramma parasitize. Caterpillars and pupae are affected by fungi diseases of the genus Entomofora ( Entomofora ). Epizootics caused by them appear after prolonged rains.
Countermeasures
There are the following ways to combat pest:
- Mechanical
- The collection and destruction of the remnants of cabbage and other cabbage crops, where the pest overwinters.
- Deep plowing.
- The destruction of weeds, which develop the first generation of caterpillars.
- Installation of traps. The fact is that these butterflies move in the evening or at night, but at the same time they react very well to light, you can see how they hover under the lighting lamps. This gardeners and enjoy. The trap is an ordinary table lamp, the light of which is directed vertically downwards on a white saucer with vegetable oil poured into it. The distance from the ceiling to the saucer is about 10-15 cm. Butterflies fly into the light and fall into the oil, from which they can no longer get out. The trap is placed on the beds or between them. During the night, you can catch up to 100 (or even more) individuals of this pest.
- Chemical
Preparations based on pyrethroids, peritrines and cypermetrines are used when the degree of moth infection reaches about 10%.
- Biological
Effective is the use of bacterial preparations - insecticides (lepidocid, dendrobatsilin, bitoksibatsilin, dipel, baktospein). Threshold levels of abundance in the phase of the cabbage rosette are 3–6 caterpillars per plant, when 15–20% of the plants are settled. In the head formation phase, 2–4 caterpillars per plant when 15-25% of the plants are settled and 3-5 caterpillars per plant when 15–25% of the plants are populated in the dense head phase.
- Folk remedies
- Exposure to deterring odors (citrus, vinegar, lavender, laundry soap, tobacco).
- A solution of soap and ash.
- Infusion of celandine or wormwood.