Cabbage – One of the most important vegetable crops in Serbia
Cabbage is one of the most important vegetable crops in Serbia, both in terms of production and consumption. Intensive production requires a serious approach to protection measures, because pests that attack it during the growing season can cause major problems for vegetable growers. This, of course, leads to a reduced yield and poorer fruit quality.
Cabbage moth – Pest number one
By visual inspection of the field under early cabbage, we noticed the flight of the cabbage moth (Plutella maculipennis). Cabbage moth caterpillars do the most damage to cabbage and cauliflower, feeding and creating damage on the leaves in the form of small “windows”. With a stronger attack of this pest, only the main nerves on the leaves may remain on the young cabbage. The second generation of the cabbage moth is particularly harmful.
The life cycle of the cabbage moth
The cabbage moth has 2 to 3, and sometimes more, generations per year that intertwine. It overwinters in the pupa stage. At the end of April, the first butterflies begin to fly, and the female lays eggs singly or in groups of 2-4 on the underside of the leaves, along the main nerve.
After moulting, the caterpillars enter the pupal stage after about two weeks. The butterflies of the new generation appear 1 to 2 weeks later. The strength of the attack and the intensity of the damage is determined during the period of mass sawing of the caterpillars.
Little Cabbage – Another enemy of cabbage
In addition to the cabbage moth, adults of the small cabbage moth (Pieris rapae) and eggs laid on the reverse side of the leaf are also registered in cabbage crops. Eggs are lemon-yellow in color, with longitudinal ribbed depressions.
Newly hatched larvae feed on cabbage leaves, and later burrow into the heads, soiling them with feeding remains. Attacked heads become susceptible to rotting, which further threatens the quality of the crop.
Effective protection – Bionix bioinsecticide
The company Agrounik has developed and registered the preparation Bionix, a bioinsecticide with the active substance Bacillus thuringiensis, in its research laboratory. This preparation is of natural origin and completely harmless, and it effectively eliminates the larval (caterpillar) stages of these pests.
Recommended concentration:
The amount and concentration of the preparation Bionix is 1%.
Bionix provides safe and effective protection against cabbage moth and cabbage looper, allowing vegetable growers to preserve their crops and achieve stable yields.
