wworms eating turnip leaves - Ask Extension
What worms are these devouring my turnip leaves and how do I get rid of them? (Without pesticides).
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wworms eating turnip leaves #876210
Asked July 07, 2024, 3:59 PM EDT
What worms are these devouring my turnip leaves and how do I get rid of them? (Without pesticides).
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello; Thanks for submitting your garden and landscaping questions to the University of Maryland Ask Extension Service.
I believe the turnip pest, from your photo, is a cross-striped cabbage worm. See this University of Massachusetts Extension webpage on this pest: https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cross-striped-cabbage-worm. Turnips are members of the brassica family of vegetables including broccoli and cabbages.
To control this pest, first pick off any caterpillars that you can Identify on your turnip plants (dump them into soapy water, then check the underside of leaves to look for masses of eggs which you squish with your fingers. A good biologic control is using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray for control of caterpillars. You should be able to find this product at any garden center store. Follow manufacturers directions.
Another pest which can produce small holes in your turnip leaves are flea beetles. See this web page on this pest: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/flea-beetles-vegetables/. Please follow manufacturers instructions if choosing neem or horticultural oil when daytime temperatures are high.
Then aphids can cause problems. See this webpage on aphids on vegetable leaves: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/aphids-vegetables/. Blasting foliage with a jet of water can control this pest problem.
Good luck in your gardening efforts. Thanks; Christopher
I believe the turnip pest, from your photo, is a cross-striped cabbage worm. See this University of Massachusetts Extension webpage on this pest: https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cross-striped-cabbage-worm. Turnips are members of the brassica family of vegetables including broccoli and cabbages.
To control this pest, first pick off any caterpillars that you can Identify on your turnip plants (dump them into soapy water, then check the underside of leaves to look for masses of eggs which you squish with your fingers. A good biologic control is using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray for control of caterpillars. You should be able to find this product at any garden center store. Follow manufacturers directions.
Another pest which can produce small holes in your turnip leaves are flea beetles. See this web page on this pest: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/flea-beetles-vegetables/. Please follow manufacturers instructions if choosing neem or horticultural oil when daytime temperatures are high.
Then aphids can cause problems. See this webpage on aphids on vegetable leaves: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/aphids-vegetables/. Blasting foliage with a jet of water can control this pest problem.
Good luck in your gardening efforts. Thanks; Christopher
