This is the second time these green worms (or are they caterpillars or slugs?) completely destroyed my Collard Greens. You can see three of them on what's left of the leaf in the upper right hand corner. They're the exact same color as the plant, so they hide very well. Who knows what they are?
Cabbage White Butterfly caterpillars, (Pieris rapae)
Bob
Thanks Bob. Good to hear from someone close by! Looks like they got to yours too. What can I do to prevent their appearance? By the time they show up and start munching, it's usually too late for eradication (they eat FAST!).
Sevin.
Thanks. Are there any organic options for prevention?
BT- Dipel dust are both organics, I believe
BT (bacccilus thurng) is made for all caterpillars. It kills by stopping the eating process and they quickly starve. Works on all plants, can be used after you start to see damage, but I usually sprayed about once a week (more if it rained) on my whole garden. It only affects caterpillars// beneficial insects and worms aren't harmed. The only caterpillar I pick it is the Tomatoe HornWorm and put it on plants that I raise from the mulch box. They are the larva of moths known as Hummingbird Moths (several different kind) and are pollinators.
