Cabbage Looper (Larva stage)

Natural Habitat

Found in agricultural fields, home gardens, and meadows wherever host plants are available, predominantly in North America.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; primarily consumes foliage from a wide range of plants including cabbage, broccoli, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, and various flowers.

Behavior Patterns

Notable for their 'looping' movement where they arch their back to move forward because they lack middle prolegs. They are primarily nocturnal as adults and very active feeders in the larval stage, often feeding on the undersides of leaves.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a significant agricultural pest that can cause extensive damage to leafy crops. To the ecosystem, they serve as a food source for various birds, spiders, and parasitic wasps.

Identified on: 3/22/2026