cabbage white on sprouts

[Brenjon]

I have a nice crop of sprouts grown under a protective cage . The sprouts are now reaching the top of the cage . If I remove it will I be subject to attack by butterflies. Answers please
Brenjon

[alan refail]

Yes

[MrsL]

I would say yes, probably, there's quite a lot about at the moment. Coudl you raise the cage up somehow - the supports or netting?

[glallotments]

We have this problem too and are going to have a go at raising the netting and next year start off with it higher!

[oldherbaceous]

We had a huge amount of Cabbage White Butterflies about earlier on in the year, but hardly any damage from caterpillars. I think the wasps were taking them as quick as they hatched.
But strangely there are no C.W.B about now.

[Marken]

I think the cabbage white will be active for a while yet, so protection is still needed.

[gloworm]

Just seen an odd CW about, not like last year when there were dozens. Still got unprotected cabbage with no infestation, typical, as this is the first year I have put most of my brassicas under mesh. I have a v active wasp nest in the garden so maybe that's the solution ?

[glallotments]

OH,
I guess you mean the common wasp. I gathered some large white caterpillars and popped them in a jar and all but one had been attacked by the ichneumon wasps or something similar - the problem was by the time they were killed they had munched away quite a lot of the cabbage leaves. Fortunately on the cabbages ready for pulling up.

Netting has now been raised. Not only did it provide access to the plants but the tops of the plants were being squashed. We will take note to start of with higher netting next year.

We have had the same problem with peas growing higher that their supports too!

[Colin Miles]

I think the Cabbage White butterflies that OH was referring to early in the year were probably female Orangetips. There were lots of Orangetips - male and female - this year.