Plutella

Contributor: Wageningen University
Date Compiled: 2025
Creative Commons "Attribution-Share Alike"
Diamondback moth damage on cabbage Image copyright: Francis Nduati, Kenya

Prevention

Solution
Strip cropping
Utility plants
Attractive cultivar for parasitoids
Avoid continuous cropping of brassicacae vegetables in a larger range, because they may all host the pest.
After harvest, immediately clean stubble and leaves because of residual pest eggs.
Plough in autumn, because pupae are in the soil.
Irrigate in winter to reduce overwintering pupae.
Apply botanicals against larvae (such as extracts from staff vine, staff tree or bittersweet Celastrus angulatus)

Control

Solution
Solar powered light traps to capture adult moths (3 traps /667m2) at night, on the edge of the field.

Regulations surrounding biological products can change rapidly – always verify products recommended here with the most recent legislation and lists of products registered for your country
Solution Product Category Max nb. of a. i. application/year Chemical Group
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki
Microbiological insecticide
Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai
Microbiological insecticide
Spinosad
Biological insecticide
Maximum 3 interventions between Spinosad and Spinetoram
Spinosine

Regulations surrounding chemical products can change rapidly – always verify chemicals recommended here with the most recent legislation and lists of products registered for your country
Solution Product Category Production stage (if possible with reference to BBCH scale) Max nb. of a. i. application/year Application Details and Notes (commercial product example) Chemical Group IRAC Code
Cypermethrin
Synthetic insecticide
Treat at the first appearance of parasites. Suspend treatments 14 days before harvest
3 per cycle with pyrethroids; 4 for cycles over 70 days.
CYPERKILL 50 EC (1 L/ha)
Pyrethroids and pyrethrins
3A
Deltamethrin
Synthetic insecticide
Treat at the first appearance of parasites. Suspend treatments 7 days before harvest
2 per cycle with pyrethroids; 4 for cycles over 70 days.
(DECIS®EVO) Dosage: 0,3-0,5 l/ha
Pyrethroids and pyrethrins
3A
Chlorantraniliprole
Synthetic insecticide
Treat at the first appearance of parasites. Suspend treatments 14 days before harvest
2
MINECTO ALPHA TM (1L/ha)
Diamides
28
Spinetoram
Synthetic insecticide
Treat at the first appearance of parasites. Suspend treatments 3 days before harvest
3
(EXALT™ 25 SC) Dosage: 2L/ha
Spinosyns
5
The information made available here has been obtained from or is based upon sources believed by CABI to be reliable but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. Anyone acting or relying on such information does so entirely at their own risk. The efficacy of the IPM methods included above will depend on local conditions and might not always be suitable everywhere within the specified country.