Cabbage looper: Care instructions

Cabbage looper is shipped during the egg stage within cups of artificial diet. Each cup contains 20–25 eggs attached to a piece of gauze. Eggs may hatch during transit.

1. Upon receipt of the insects, turn the rearing cups upside down so that the diet is at the top. The tiny larvae will move up towards the light to find food. Breathable trays (e.g., cardboard) should be used to hold the cups of larvae. Maintain the cups at 27°C, 60% relative humidity and a 16h:8h light:dark cycle.
2. Transfer the larvae to fresh food one week after the shipping date. Reduce the larval rearing density to 3 per cup when using ¾ oz (22 ml) cups of prepared artificial diet.
3. Natural foods (e.g., cabbage or any other cruciferous vegetable) may be used for feeding. (However, these foods are a potential source of microbial pathogens that may infect the insects, and are therefore not recommended.) If using these foods, remove uneaten foliage and clean rearing chambers regularly to minimize the accumulation of frass. As larvae become larger, the rearing density must be reduced because the larvae become cannibalistic.
4. Larvae will start to pupate about 14 days after egg hatch and may be removed from the diet. Pupae should be maintained in a vented container at 24°C, 60% relative humidity and a 16h:8h light:dark cycle.
5. Adults will emerge 6–8 days after pupation (i.e., 20–22 days after egg hatch) and survive longest when fed a sugar-honey solution.