Insect Management

Purity K. Muthomi, Dakshina Seal, and Oscar E. Liburd

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), is a significant pest of cole crops such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, carinata, turnips, and watercress. Globally, the annual cost of managing the DBM is estimated to be USD 4 to 5 billion. The pest originated in Europe but is now widely distributed wherever cole crops are extensively grown. DBM has become widespread due to its high dispersal ability, multiple generations per year, and potential to develop resistance to most commonly used insecticides. DBM management is heavily reliant on chemical control, but DBM is notorious for developing resistance to many classes of insecticides, so frequent pesticide applications can lead to insecticide resistance, ineffective pest suppression, and yield losses. Therefore, to manage DBM, a good integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is critical.

Jesusa C. Legaspi, Alejandro Bolques, Fanny E. Ospina, Shufang Tian, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez, Amanda C. Hodges, Adam J. Pitcher, and Xin Zhao

This publication is aimed to introduce “push-pull” technology and companion planting for pest management to high tunnel vegetable growers. It is also of interest to other crop producers wishing to improve their IPM practices.