‘It’s not pleasant’: 'Plague' of white cabbage butterfly worms wreaks havoc on crops
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Australia's agricultural industry is under siege by an unexpected enemy: the white cabbage butterfly.
This invasive species of butterfly, known for its voracious appetite for brassica crops, has been spotted in unprecedented numbers across Victoria, causing widespread concern among farmers and consumers alike.
The white cabbage butterfly—erroneously known as the white cabbage moth—is a seemingly innocuous creature causing a significant stir in the agricultural sector.
While their fluttering presence may be a ‘beautiful’ sight to behold, the reality is far from picturesque for the farmers grappling with the impact of these pests on their crops.
‘It’s not pleasant for farmers. It’s a bit of a disaster,’ Amedeo Mason, a seasoned farmer from Mason Brothers Vegetable Farms, said.
He explained that the butterflies have a particular fondness for cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale—currently abundant crops across the state.
The real issue, however, lies not with the adult butterflies but with their offspring.
A single female butterfly can lay up to 300 eggs, which then hatch into voracious caterpillars.
These caterpillars can decimate entire fields of brassica crops, including broccoli, in weeks.
Farmers are resorting to pesticides to control the butterfly population and salvage their crops.
However, the scale of the infestation means that supply will inevitably be impacted, leading to increased supermarket prices for fruit and vegetables in the coming months.
Nathan Free from the Victorian Farmers Federation warned of the impending consequences of this pest plague.
'Such a plague of this pest, we're going to see issues on the shelves,' he said.
Scientists attribute the ‘plague’ to a mild winter followed by a wet and humid summer, conditions ideal for the pests' proliferation.
Zoos Victoria has suggested avoiding chemicals and allowing natural predators to control the butterfly population, but farmers are bracing themselves for the impact.
'There's definitely hard times ahead, that's for sure,' Mason said.
While farmers and supermarkets are expected to deliver high-quality and fresh produce, it’s still not a guarantee.
Woolworths recently announced an urgent plea to its customers about the appearance of their favourite fruits over the next few weeks.
Read more about the plea here.
Have you encountered a white cabbage butterfly before? Let us know in the comments below!
This invasive species of butterfly, known for its voracious appetite for brassica crops, has been spotted in unprecedented numbers across Victoria, causing widespread concern among farmers and consumers alike.
The white cabbage butterfly—erroneously known as the white cabbage moth—is a seemingly innocuous creature causing a significant stir in the agricultural sector.
While their fluttering presence may be a ‘beautiful’ sight to behold, the reality is far from picturesque for the farmers grappling with the impact of these pests on their crops.
White cabbage butterfly as caterpillars (left) and in its full form (right). Credit: Shutterstock
‘It’s not pleasant for farmers. It’s a bit of a disaster,’ Amedeo Mason, a seasoned farmer from Mason Brothers Vegetable Farms, said.
He explained that the butterflies have a particular fondness for cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale—currently abundant crops across the state.
The real issue, however, lies not with the adult butterflies but with their offspring.
A single female butterfly can lay up to 300 eggs, which then hatch into voracious caterpillars.
These caterpillars can decimate entire fields of brassica crops, including broccoli, in weeks.
Farmers are resorting to pesticides to control the butterfly population and salvage their crops.
However, the scale of the infestation means that supply will inevitably be impacted, leading to increased supermarket prices for fruit and vegetables in the coming months.
Nathan Free from the Victorian Farmers Federation warned of the impending consequences of this pest plague.
'Such a plague of this pest, we're going to see issues on the shelves,' he said.
Scientists attribute the ‘plague’ to a mild winter followed by a wet and humid summer, conditions ideal for the pests' proliferation.
Zoos Victoria has suggested avoiding chemicals and allowing natural predators to control the butterfly population, but farmers are bracing themselves for the impact.
'There's definitely hard times ahead, that's for sure,' Mason said.
While farmers and supermarkets are expected to deliver high-quality and fresh produce, it’s still not a guarantee.
Woolworths recently announced an urgent plea to its customers about the appearance of their favourite fruits over the next few weeks.
Read more about the plea here.
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