This is one of the major pests of cabbage and related plants. In addition, it feeds on certain ornamentals, such as nasturtium and alyssum.
The imported cabbage worm is a velvety leaf green caterpillar with a very slender orange stripe down the back. It may range up to 1 1/4 inches long. The white butterflies usually found around each planting are parents of this caterpillar. The caterpillar rags the leaves and eats its way to concealment, and in so doing it deposits dirty pellets where the leaves join the stem.
