Description on the life cycle, hosts, and management of Cabbage Cluster Worms

1. CROP PROTECTION 21
APPROACHES AND PRACTICES IN PEST MANAGEMENT - ENTOMOLOGY
CABBAGE WORMS
(Crocidolomiapavonana)
Jimae Faith B. Magnaye
TTH; 1:00 – 2:00

2. I. Introduction
Cabbage is one of the mass produced horticultural crops in the
world. Not only that it is very palatable yet the availability of the market
makes the production profitable. However, like any crops, growing
cabbages also have problems. One particular problem of the cabbage
industry is the occurrence of Cabbage Worm infestation.
Scientifically known as of Crocidolomiapavonana, cabbage worm is
classified taxonomically as:
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Subfamily: Evergestinae
Genus: Crocidolomia
Species: pavonana
(Source:http://www.lepbarcoding.org/australia/species.php?region=1&id=7
1690)
In other countries, Crocidolomiapavonanais more commonly known
as cabbage cluster worm or leaf webber. Other information regarding
Crocidolomiapavonanawill be based upon information labelled with the
common name cabbage cluster worm or leaf webber.

3. Studying the life cycle, damage caused and its casualties, vectors
and control methods is important especially since cabbage is a crop that is
has high economic yield yet highly susceptible, too.
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
A. Life cycle of Crocidolomiapavonanaand Damage
Eggs are laid in clusters of 40-300 on the underside of
the leaves. Hatching time takes a week while the completion
of the life cycle comes in 3-4 weeks’ time. After which, the
larva will turn into the cabbage
moth(http://www.pestsandcrops.com, 2012).
Figure 1: Crocidolomiapavonanain aggregate
(Source: http://www.pestsandcrops.com, 2012)

4. Figure 2: Crocidolomiapavonanain mature stage
(Source: http://www.pestsandcrops.com, 2012)
The larval stage occurs after hatching where the
larvae became consume the leaves by groups. They were
called cabbage cluster worms due to this feeding behaviour.
Young leaves, shoots and became the initial food of
the Crocidolomiapavonana. After which, they consume the
older leaves (ICAR, 2012). This trend led to unpleasing
physical appearance of the crop.
Although considered minor causal agent of decrease
in the physical yield, the damage made by
Crocidolomiapavonanais more on the quality side of the
crop. After leaf infestation, the physical form of the produce
is full of holes and at times, only the net are the only ones
being left.

5. Moreover, since the affected family of crop has the
economic value on the leaves, this problem must be
addressed.
B. Methods of Control
Since Crocidolomiapavonanais considered as a minor pest, only
a few control methods were formulated to protect the crop it
attacks. Moreover, some of these methods where adopted from the
control methods of diamond-backed moth also known as
Plutellaxylostella. Both species came from the same family which is
the reason for the same or applicable control.
a. Cultural
In terms of cultural method, the land
preparation is the process where the control method
is incorporated. The land preparation for the crops
affected with this pest requires thorough ploughing in
which the plant residues from the previous cropping
should be mixed with the soil. The method allows the
end of the life cycle of the
Crocidolomiapavonanasince there’s no available crop
during the laying period.

6. b. Biological
Utilization of biological controls for
Crocidolomiapavonanais not practiced since the
damage caused by the pest is minimal compared to
others. However, the studies show that Bacillus
thurigiensisand Trichogrammachilonisis applicable for
its control (Saucke, et al.,2010).
Older studies indicated that the utilization of
Pteromaruspuparum or commonly known as chalcis
fly is also proven beneficial to the crop by functioning
as Crocidolomiapavonana’sparasite. On the other
hand, another biological control for the mature stage
of Crocidolomiapavonanais the Phymatawolffi or the
ambush bug. The ambush bug devours on the mature
cabbage moth which prevents further lying of eggs.
(Chittenden,1912).
c. Mechanical & Physical
The only mechanical control made before was
via hand picking which became laborious as well as
less productive due to the size and the number of the
pest (Chittenden,1912).

7. d. Behavioural
No behavioural control was yet established for
Crocidolomiapavonana.
e. Chemical and Biotic pesticide
There is no established chemical or biotic pesticide
that could control Crocidolomiapavonanayet studies and
practices show that there are certain substances being
tested and used in order to control the pest.
According to the results of the study of Dadang and
Djoko (2011), botanical insecticides derived from Piper
retrofractum, Annonasquamosa and Aglaiaodorota are
relatively more effective than delamethrin, a synthetic
chemical and as effective as B. thurigiensis. The parameter
for this result is the number of larvae present as well as the
reproduction rate of the said pest.
In terms of synthetic chemicals, arsenicals are
commonly used. Yet this practice is not common since the
application should be at least five times in order to visibly
control the pest.
One established chemical control is the Durivo™ by
Syngenta. It is a broad spectrum insecticide which controls

8. the insect pest of leafy vegetables where the family of
Brassica is included. The active ingredients present in this
chemical control are thiametoxam and chlorantranilipole
(Durivo Label, 2012).
f. Others
Usage of genetically modified organism such as the
Bt cabbage was a suggested mode of control to decrease
the larval population of the Crocidolomiapavonana. Yet, the
availability and cost of this type of cabbage are the
constraints that cause the less utilization of this practice
(Saucke, et al.,2010).
C. Disease
Crocidolomiapavonanais not a vector of pathogenic
disease. However, the existence of this pest allows the
susceptibility or the easy entrance of another pest. The
insect pest that follows after the existence or completion of
the life cycle of Crocidolomiapavonana is the
Plutellaxylostella. The attack of the
Crocidolomiapavonanaduring the larval stage destroys the
inner buds and the outer leaves while the attack of

9. Plutellaxylostellaat its mature stage is a combination that
cabbage producers dread. This can cause losses up to
100% of the economic yield.
Harvests can be made yet the collected crops have
low value in the market due to its damagedphysical
appearance.
D. Crop
In terms of scope of infection, the Brassica family of crops are
commonly affected. Not only are the cabbages being affected but also its
relatives such as lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower.
III. OTHER INFORMATION:
i. Foraging behaviour and its effect on behaviour
One study conducted showed the different feeding behaviour
of Crocidolomiapavonanaupon its location. If the larval stage will
be placed in the internals buds, the leaf tips are consumed first
and the base of the leaf was not consumed where as in the case
of the older leaf location, the base of the leaves were consumed
first, leaving the tips of the leaves uneaten (Takeuchi, et al. 2009).
In relation to this, the larvae found in the older, external
leaves were found to cause less damage than the ones found in
the inner buds.

10. IV. References:
Chittenden, H. (1912) Cabbage Worms. Farmers’ Bulletin (766). Retrieved on
September 25, 2012 from
http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/ORC00000200/PDF
Dadang, E. D. F. &Djoko, P. (2012). Field efficacy of two botanical insecticide
formulations against cabbage insect pests, Crocidolomiapavonana
(Lep.,Pyralidae) and Plutellaxylostella (Lep., Yponomeutidae).
J.ISSAAS 17: 2, 38-47.
Durivo Label (2012). Durivo Information Label.Syngenta Product Information
Database. Retrieved on September 25, 2012 from www.syngenta.com
Fabricius (1974) Crocidolomiapavonana.Insect Information Database.
Retrieved on September 25, 2012 from
http://202.141.78.173/NABG/pestrecdis.php?keyword=Oilseeds%20Mustard&pna
me=Crocidolomia%20pavonana
Saucke, H., F. Dori, & H. Schmutterer (2010). Biological and integrated
control of Plutellaxylostella (Lep., Yponomeutidae) and
Crocidolomiapavonana (Lep., Pyralidae) in Brassica Crop in Papua
New Guinea. Biocontrol Science and Technology 10: 5, 595-600.
Retrieved on September 25, 2012 from http://www.wiz.uni-
kassel.de/phytomed/Saucke%20et%20al%202000_DBM%20biocontr
ol.pdf

11. Tackeuchi, H., Zalucki, M. P. & Furlong, M.J.
(2009).Crocidolomiapavonanalarval foraging: behaviour and feeding
site preferences in cabbage, Brassica oleracea.
EntomologiaExperimetalis et Applicata:10.1111/j.1570-
7458.2009.00918.
Unknown (2012).Greater Cabbage Moth.Pests of Field Crops in South
Africa.Retrived on September 24, 2012 from
http://www.pestsandcrops.com