Cabbage Integrated Pest Management : An Ecological Guide.

Major Natural Enemies of Cabbage Insect PestsEffectivenessSpiders are voracious predators: it depends on the species how many prey it caneat on a day. Some spiders can eat as many as 5 large insects per day!ConservationMulching, especially organic mulch, can increase the number of spiders in vegetable crops becausespiders can hide in the layer of mulch and they find protection from sun and rain.Spiders are easily killed by broad-spectrum insecticides. Avoid using pesticides as much as possible.6.1.6 Praying mantids - MantidaeAlso called praying mantis.Primary prey: flies, bees, moths and small spiders.Predatory stages: nymphs and adults are predators.Description and life cycleBoth adult and nymphs have large frontlegs that they hold in a “praying”position. The nymphs look like smalladults.The adults are good flyers and cantravel long distances. Adults are lightgreen to brown in color and can be 5 -10 cm long. The eggs are placed in apapery mass (“egg case”) attached toa twig.an adult praying mantidmantid egg massEffectivenessMantids are very active predators of many insects and they serve a beneficial role in destroying manypest insects. They are indiscriminate hunters and can eat many large insects per day.However, mantids are usually not considered to be important in regulating insect pest populations.ConservationAs for almost all natural enemies, praying mantids are easily killed by broad-spectrum insecticides.Avoid use of these pesticides when possible.When the egg cases of praying mantids are seen attached to trees or places outside the field, they maybe carefully removed and placed in the cabbage field. The young nymphs may start feeding on pestinsects of cabbage.Cabbage Ecological Guide - 2000116