Diamondback Moth

W. D. Hutchison, P. C. Bolin, and R. L Hines
Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

Introduction

The diamondback moth, DBM (Plutella xylostella), is the single most destructive pest of cabbage and leafy greens worldwide. It was introduced from Europe in the nineteenth century, and is now widely distributed throughout North, Central and South America, Hawaii, and Asia. Because of its pest status worldwide, DBM has also developed resistance to numerous insecticides, including several Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products. NOTE: Cabbage transplants shipped to the Midwest and Northeast U.S. from southern states can be infested with insecticide-resistant DBM. Northern U.S. growers should check with their suppliers to ensure that all appropriate IPM actions are taken during transplant production in the south to minimize the shipment of resistant DBM to northern states.

Biology and Life Cycle

Adult DBMs are brown to grayish in color and have a maximum wingspan of about 3/4 of an inch. At rest, the folded wings present an image of light-colored diamond shapes along the backs of the wings where they meet.

Interestingly, this is one of the few Lepidoptera that overwinters as an adult moth. After mating in early spring the females deposit small, almost round, yellowish-white eggs singly or in small groups on both sides of leaves of host plants. Larvae hatch after a few days and begin feeding just under the surface of the leaf tissue (difficult to see without a microscope). After several days of feeding, mid-instar larvae exit the leaf and feed on the leaf surface. Larvae cease to feed when the temperature drops below 50 F. As with other insects development through all life stages is delayed during cool temperatures. In contrast, populations can increase dramatically when temperatures rise above 80 F. The life cycle may be as long as 50 days at low temperatures and as short as 15 days at high temperatures. Mature late-instar larvae are pale green and about 1/3 of an inch long.

Pupae are green and encased in a delicate, netlike cocoon on leaves or in soil debris. Four to six generations occur annually depending on summer temperatures. Adults overwinter in plant debris or in the soil.

Damage

Initial damage results in small incomplete holes caused by young larvae and larger complete holes caused by mature larvae. The entire plant may become riddled with holes under moderate to heavy populations. Larvae also feed in the developing heads of cabbage, causing deformed heads and encouraging soft rots. However, because of their small size, relative to cabbage looper (CL) and imported cabbageworm (ICW), it takes approximately 20 DBM larvae to defoliate as much cabbage as 1 looper, or about 2 ICW larvae.

Management Options

Diadegma insulare

DBM in the upper Midwest, is usually suppressed by a very effective native parasitoid, Diadegma insulare (Family: Ichneumonidae). This beneficial wasp consistently parasitizes 70-80% of larva populations (at least for mid-and late-season cabbage in MN and WI; we have less data for early plantings which can also be hit hard by DBM). Therefore, the level of parasitism should be accounted for when making control decisions. The graph on the following page illustrates the high levels of parasitism of DBM.

Clearly, Bt is much easier on the beneficial insects and D. insulare than conventional insecticides. When control is needed, and DBM is the dominant worm pest present, we encourage Bt use to help conserve the beneficial insect complex (see also management tips for cabbage looper, where Bt is less effective).

For more information, see an overview article on Bt by Dr. Rick Weinzerl and T. Henn, University of Illinois, plus numerous related articles on Bt.

For more information, see the VegEdge Diadegma insulare fact sheet by Lee et al.

Action Thresholds for Insecticide Use:

NOTE: To ensure proper use of insecticides, refer to the most recent edition of the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide (BU-7094-S).

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Related References

Cornell University. 2003. Vegetable Disease ID and Management. http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/.

Grafius, E.J., and A. B. Idris. Know your friends. Diadegma insulare, parasite of diamondback moth. 1997. Midwest Biological Control News. http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf401.html

Hard, C.G., 1991. Growing Cole Crops (FO-1862).University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0436.html

Lee, J.C., M.A. Carrillo, and W.D. Hutchison. 2003. Diadegma insulare. VegEdge Fact Sheet, University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/beneficials/Diadeg.htm

Mahr, D.L, and N.M. Ridgway. 1993. Biological control of insects and mites. North Central Regional Publication 481.

Pfleger, F.L., and S.L. Gould. 1999. Diseases of Cole Crops (FS-1169). University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1169.html

Rice Mahr, S.E., R.A. Cloyd, D.L. Mahr, C.S. Sadof. Biological Control of Insect Pests of Cabbage and Other Cruicifers. North Central Regional Publication 471.

University of Minnesota Extension Service BU-7094-S. Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers; http://www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/ext/targets/ID/index.htm
To order: http://www.extension.umn.edu/abstracts/nonweb/abstract.html?item=07094

Last Revised November, 2007 by woldx018@umn.edu
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