CABBAGE LOOPER Meaning and
Definition
-
Cabbage loopers are green caterpillars that are considered destructive garden pests. Their scientific name is Trichoplusia ni, and they are commonly found in North America. Cabbage loopers belong to the family Noctuidae and are closely related to moths.
The name "cabbage looper" originates from the looping motion they make as they crawl, drawing their head and rear ends closer together, causing their body to form a loop shape. This distinctive movement sets them apart from other caterpillars. Cabbage loopers have a smooth, green body with white lines that run along their sides. They have three pairs of true legs and several pairs of fleshy prolegs, which aid in their mobility.
These pests primarily target plants from the brassica family, including cabbage, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower. Cabbage loopers are voracious eaters and can cause significant damage to crops by gnawing on the leaves and stems. Their feeding habits often result in irregularly shaped holes and ragged edges on the plants' foliage.
Cabbage loopers undergo complete metamorphosis, transitioning from caterpillars to pupae and eventually to adult moths. They spin silk cocoons during their pupal stage. Once they emerge as moths, they are nocturnal and possess a wingspan of approximately 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 cm).
To control cabbage loopers, various methods can be employed, including handpicking the caterpillars, using biological control agents such as parasitic wasps or applying organic pesticides. The prevention of infestations through proper cultivation practices, such as crop rotation, can also be effective in managing cabbage looper populations.
Common Misspellings for CABBAGE LOOPER
- xabbage looper
- vabbage looper
- fabbage looper
- dabbage looper
- czbbage looper
- csbbage looper
- cwbbage looper
- cqbbage looper
- cavbage looper
- canbage looper
- cahbage looper
- cagbage looper
- cabvage looper
- cabnage looper
- cabhage looper
- cabgage looper
- cabbzge looper
- cabbsge looper
- cabbwge looper
- cabbqge looper
Etymology of CABBAGE LOOPER
The word "cabbage looper" is a compound word that combines "cabbage" and "looper". The term "cabbage" comes from the Old French word "caboge" or "caboche", which originated from the Latin word "caput" meaning "head". It refers to the vegetable with a dense head of leaves.
The term "looper" refers to the characteristic looping movement of the insect larvae known as "cabbage loopers". The larvae move by arching their bodies, causing a looping motion. The word "looper" likely comes from the English word "loop", which originated from the Middle Dutch word "lupen" meaning "to leap, jump, or lope". Thus, the word "cabbage looper" describes a type of insect larvae known for its looping movement while feeding on cabbage plants.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
