Pest identification
What's eating my mibuna?
Flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.)
Signs: Circular shot holes through the leaf blade on seedlings and young plants; plants look tatty and growth slows.
Control: Insect mesh from germination; delay transplanting until plants are established; yellow sticky traps; keep soil consistently moist.
Cabbage white caterpillar (Pieris rapae / Pieris brassicae)
Signs: Holes eaten through leaf blades; frass deposits; caterpillars camouflage well on green strap leaves.
Control: Exclusion netting; inspect undersides for eggs; Btk spray; hand-pick larvae.
Cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae)
Signs: Waxy grey-green colonies on growing tips; distorted, curled new leaves; honeydew and sooty mould.
Control: Insecticidal soap spray; water jet to dislodge; remove infested tip growth.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes and slime trails on lower leaves; especially problematic in cool, wet seasons.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; grit mulch; hand collection at night.
Keep mibuna pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Mibuna pests — FAQ
What is eating my mibuna?
Mibuna has strap-like, entire leaves (unlike the feathery mizuna) but is equally attractive to flea beetles, which pepper seedlings with holes. Caterpillars, aphids, and slugs round out the threat list. Flea beetles are consistently the biggest problem at the seedling stage; netting is the most reliable protection.
How do I get rid of flea beetle (phyllotreta spp.) on mibuna?
Circular shot holes through the leaf blade on seedlings and young plants; plants look tatty and growth slows. Insect mesh from germination; delay transplanting until plants are established; yellow sticky traps; keep soil consistently moist.
How do I get rid of cabbage white caterpillar (pieris rapae / pieris brassicae) on mibuna?
Holes eaten through leaf blades; frass deposits; caterpillars camouflage well on green strap leaves. Exclusion netting; inspect undersides for eggs; Btk spray; hand-pick larvae.
How do I get rid of cabbage aphid (brevicoryne brassicae) on mibuna?
Waxy grey-green colonies on growing tips; distorted, curled new leaves; honeydew and sooty mould. Insecticidal soap spray; water jet to dislodge; remove infested tip growth.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on mibuna?
Irregular holes and slime trails on lower leaves; especially problematic in cool, wet seasons. Iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; grit mulch; hand collection at night.