Insect
Cabbage Looper Moth
Trichoplusia niAlso known as Ni Moth, Cabbage Looper
Cabbage looper moths feature mottled brown upper wings adorned with a distinct silvery figure-eight spot near the center. Adult moths fly actively at night to sip flower nectar, while their smooth green caterpillars arch their backs like inchworms while moving across leaves. Widespread across North America, these moths are famous in agricultural settings for chewing large, ragged holes through brassicas and garden crops.
NocturnalMothAgricultural Pest
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCabbage, Broccoli, Flower Nectar
Predators
- Insectivorous Birds
- Parasitoid Wasps
- Spiders
ThreatsPesticide sprays, insectivorous birds, and predatory wasps
HabitatsVegetable gardens, agricultural cropland, meadows, and grassy fields
Life span1 to 2 months
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNoctuidae
- GenusTrichoplusia
- SpeciesTrichoplusia ni
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Nighttime Observation: Spot adult moths visiting night-blooming flowers or fluttering near porch lights after dusk.
- Garden Search: Examine the undersides of cabbage or broccoli leaves to find green loopers and feeding damage.
- Wing Identification: Look for a small silver mark shaped like a figure-eight or letter gamma on each forewing.
Competitor John Tann from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Co-Occurring Pest (c) Bernie Paquette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bernie Paquette · cc-by
Parasite Dr Victor Fursov / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) ingridaltmann, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Cabbage Looper Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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