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Hi there,
I have an issue with diamondback moths in my garden.
As the weather has warmed up in Perth, I noticed that a flying insect (as per the picture below, I'm very certain it's a diamondback moth) has been eating my rocket, and surprisingly, my coriander and parsley as well. The infestation has been worst with my rocket, so I removed all of it. This helped a bit, but I still see a couple of them flying around whenever I disturb the coriander and parsley.
I understand that they prefer leafy plants, so I was extremely annoyed when I noticed them around my tomato seedlings. Do they also target tomatoes and capsicum?
What kind of pesticide I should use to get rid of them? Also, is this a seasonal issue in Perth? How to protect my plants?
Thank you in advance
Hi @perth9223,
Diamondback moths are known to target leafy greens like rocket, as you’ve seen, but they can also impact a range of other plants. While they typically prefer cruciferous vegetables (such as rocket, cabbage, and broccoli), they may venture to other plants when food sources are limited, although they’re less likely to target tomatoes and capsicum. Keeping an eye on these plants is still a good idea, especially while the infestation is active.
For controlling diamondback moths, an option is using Yates 200ml Success Ultra Insect Control which is an effective control of their catepillar stage on brassica vegetables.
In terms of prevention, diamondback moths are indeed a seasonal issue, often flaring up as temperatures rise. Covering your plants with fine mesh or insect netting can help prevent moths from laying eggs on them. You might also try planting some companion plants like dill or marigold nearby, which can repel these pests. Removing affected plants, as you did with the rocket, is a good strategy to limit their food sources and reduce the population in your garden.
Please let me know fi you have any questions.
Mitchell
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