 These pretty soft white moths flit around the garden in the spring. She lays tiny white eggs (that turn straw yellow before hatching) on the underside of cole plants; they can easily be seen and knocked off. Left unchecked these eggs give birth to small green catapillars which eat large holes in the leaves of your Cole crops. Using floating row covers prevent the butterfly from landing and laying eggs. Once the caterpillar starts eating, the holes can be seen if the plants are inspected regularly. The green caterpillar will be stationary along a vein on the underside of the leaf and can be "squished"! Small plants are the most vulnerable and need this attention from you. Undisturbed, the caterpillars grow rapidly and can do serious damage. If you use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) remember to spray the underside of the leaves as well.
Plants that seem to repel the moth include onion, garlic, tomato, sage, tansy, mint, nasturtium, hemp, hyssop, and rosemary. You may want to plan your cabbage planting to include these varieties nearby.
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