Pieris brassicae

Crops: Cole crops

Why is it a problem? The cabbage white butterfly is probably the most important of several moth pests that feed on Cole crops in Bhutan. It is a conspicuous pest that can be managed through regular monitoring and physical control, although insecticides are often used. It is mainly a problem in cabbage, as market prices are reduced by the feeding damage to leaves, and the resulting frass (excreta).

Where and when is it a problem? It occurs, and requires at least some management, in all Cole-crop growing areas. Damage is normally limited early in the season, but then increases. It doesn’t normally reach very high densities, perhaps because of the widespread use of insecticides. Aggregated feeding behavior can also reduce the proportion of plants affected within a field, and thus losses.

IDENTIFICATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eggs are orange, conical with longitudinal ridges, and laid in batches on the underside of leaves. Caterpillars grow to about 25 mm long and have longitudinal yellow stripes with many black spots. All larvae readily regurgitate a thick, repellent, green liquid from their guts to deter predators and parasitoids. Larvae pupate on vertical surfaces. Adults are large (5-7 cm wingspan) and white, with two black spots on the upper side of the forewings (females) or underside of the forewings (males). The day-flying adults are commonly seen flying in and around Cole crops and other host plants.

DAMAGE SYMPTOMS

The aggregated feeding habits of these caterpillars can completely defoliate an individual plant, leaving only the tough midrib and the veins in the leaves. Attacks occur from the seedling stage through the heading stage. Larvae initially feed on the newly formed outer leaves, which often appear riddled with irregularly shaped holes. As caterpillars mature, they feed on the center of the plant. Their excretions can be found between leaves.

Larvae are large and conspicuous, feeding in groups on the underside of leaves. Groups are larger when larvae are young. If no action is taken, whole plants can be attacked before larvae move on to adjacent plants.

Confusion with other pests: There are several moth species commonly found on Cole crops. Cabbage white butterfly larvae are relatively large and distinctive and are the only ones that feed in aggregations. A second species, Pieris candida, has also been reported on Cole crops in Bhutan, but little is known of its importance. However, it would be managed in the same way.

 

 

 

 

Damage by CWB larvae 

BIOLOGY

Lifecycle: There may be 2–3 generations per year in Bhutan. Eggs hatch in 8–10 days, larval development takes about 30 days, and the pupal stage lasts about 2-3 weeks in the summer. Larvae are gregarious for most of their lives, only becoming semi-independent towards the end of the final instar. They pupate on or under a protective surface off the ground, which can be some distance from where it last fed. They overwinter as pupae.

Dispersal: Adults are active flies and can easily disperse between fields. Mass migrations have been observed in India. Larvae can move between plants.

When can damage be expected? Populations are probably being suppressed by the prophylactic use of insecticides across commercially-grown Cole crops. Early crops are seldom injured because they mature before populations have built up sufficiently. Elsewhere, high temperatures and more sunshine hours, accompanied by low relative humidity and rainfall, has been found to favor population buildups.

Hosts: It feeds on many plant species in the family Brassicaceae. In Bhutan, it has been recorded from Cole crops, mustard, and spinach.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Cabbage white butterfly, and other moth pests, can normally be well managed through regular monitoring, the physical removal of larvae and eggs when they are found, and crop hygiene practices. The current high dependence on insecticides for managing these pests could be greatly reduced or stopped if these practices were put in place.

Monitoring

Inspection for cabbage white butterfly presence and damage needs to be part of regular (twice-weekly) crop monitoring of a wide range of Cole crop insect pests. The presence of the day-flying adults provides a good early-warning. Egg batches and larval aggregations (and damage) are conspicuous. Older larvae on older plants can be harder to find once they’ve burrowed into the heads.

Effect of variety

Not known.

Non-chemical management

• Eggs and larvae (often in groups) should be readily handpicked and destroyed when seen. They are very visible. Care should be taken not to pick eggs of lady birds which are also orange coloured and of the same size. Closer examination of the eggs will reveal the lady bird eggs to be smooth whereas the eggs of the cabbage white butterfly have longitudinal ridges.
• Practice crop hygiene: collect and destroy all stalks and stubble when harvesting the crop to prevent the build-up of subsequent generations.
• The most important natural enemy of CWB is parasitoid Cotesia glomerata (Braconidae). It parasitizes first/second instars of Pieris brassicae and egress from the host in its fifth instar. Parasitized Pieris brassicae larvae are often seen in the cabbage fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cotesia glomerata cocoons 

Chemical management

The use of insecticides should rarely be necessary for the cabbage white butterfly.

 

Check out this link for more information: https://www.nppc.gov.bt/download/cabbage-white-butterfly/?wpdmdl=4604&refresh=63a3cdb0c09941671679408

 

Version: NPPC 2017. Cabbage white butterfly V1.0. Bhutan Pest Factsheet. www.PestsofBhutan.nppc.gov.bt. Date produced: 14 April 2017. Contact: nppcsemtokha@gmail.com

Image acknowledgements: NPPC.