In the Imperial Valley, populations of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) (photo) often build up on cotton and gradually spill into seedling lettuce in the fall. Looper infestations in lettuce are so heavy some years, that lettuce production would be in jeopardy unless efficiently controlled. Good insect control on lettuce is even more important because of increasing demands from the consumer for produce free of insect damage and debris.

This research was supported in part by the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association.