Cabbage Looper

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, vegetable gardens, and greenhouses throughout North America.

Diet & Feeding

A wide variety of plants, primarily cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and kale, as well as lettuce and various ornamental plants.

Behavior Patterns

They are named for their distinctive 'looping' movement, caused by having only three pairs of prolegs. They are active primarily at night and can go through multiple generations in a single year.

Risks & Benefits

They are major agricultural pests that cause significant damage to crops by eating large, ragged holes in leaves. They do not pose a direct physical risk to humans but can devastate backyard gardens.

Identified on: 5/25/2026