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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Cabbage cluster caterpillar (LCM) (078)

Photo 1. Caterpillars of the cabbage heart-centre caterpillar, Crocidolomia pavonana, eating at the heart of a cabbage. Notice the stripes on the caterpillars.

Photo 2. Adult of the cabbage heart-centre moth, Crocidolomia pavonana.

Photo 3. Adult of the cabbage heart-centre moth, Crocidolomia pavonana, displayed to show wing patterns.

Photo 4. Young cabbage showing attack on young and old leaves by the cabbage heart-centre caterpillar, Crocidolomia pavonana.

Photo 5. Severe damage caused by the cabbage heart-centre caterpillar, Crocidolomia pavonana.

Summary

Widespread distribution. Asia, Africa, Oceania. On members of the brassica family - broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, mustard and radish.
Egg masses yellow. Young larvae feed together often on the “head”. Larger larvae with long hairs, yellow lines along the back and brown heads.
Larvae feed under silk webbing at the plant centre.
Cultural control: inspect nurseries and crops frequently: remove egg masses and/or larvae; plant far from old crops; trap crops, e.g., mustards or Chinese cabbage (Bok Choy), but destroy trap crop before insects hatch.
Chemical control: in household plots, PDPs to safeguard natural enemies (chillies, neem, derris, pyrethrum); in commercial plots, grow under nets; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays against caterpillars when young.

Common Name

Cabbage cluster caterpillar, large cabbage moth (LCM), large cabbage-heart caterpillar

Scientific Name

Crocidolomia pavonana; previously, known as Crocidolomia binotalis.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2014) Crop Protection Compendium: Crocidolomia pavonana. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc); and from Mike Furlong, University of Queensland, Australia. Photo 2 Department of Agriculture and Food, Government of Western Australia. (https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/cabbage/cabbage-head-caterpillar-cabbage-pest-indonesia). Photo 3 Mani Mua SPC, Sigatoka Research Station, Fiji.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

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