Landscape - Cabbage Aphid on Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

This is the time of the year that you can see a build up of cabbage aphid on ornamental cabbage and kale in the landscape. The following is more information from the University of Maryland.

Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) only attacks cole crops such as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli. Large colonies tend to build up on stems of plants in the colder weather of fall, usually in October and November. The grayish-green or dullgreen body is covered with grayish white wax. Cabbage aphids have short, swollen, dark cornicles and their cauda (tail-like structure) is short and triangular.

Control: Insecticidal soaps, neem products and horticultural oils will provide levels of control of cabbage aphid. Fortunately, there are many good insecticide products on the market labeled for aphid control. Most of the systemic insecticides (such as the neonicitinoids acetamiprid and imidacloprid) labeled for ornamental crops give good control of aphids.

Wax-covered Cabbage Aphids

Reprinted from the November 30, 2007 edition of the Greenhouse TPM/IPM Weekly Report from the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Central Maryland Research and Education Center.