Content
- Kale edible despite white fly?
- Recognize the white fly
- Fight the white fly
- Can kale infected with the white fly still be eaten?
In principle, cabbage can also be consumed when it is attacked by the white fly
Kale edible despite white fly?
The Kohlmottenschildlaus, often called white fly, loves cabbage and especially kale. What you can do to detect the pest infestation of the white fly, what you can do against the insects, and whether you can still eat your kale despite the infestation, is explained below.
Recognize the white fly
White flies are usually only a few millimeters in size, but still clearly visible to the naked eye. Since they are usually very numerous, fly on contact of the affected leaves whole clouds of white-winged insects. Hard to recognize are the even smaller, greenish larvae, which resemble scale insects and - as the name suggests - belong to the genus of plant lice.
The Kohlmottenschildläuse but a sticky substance, which is very characteristic of just this pest species.
Fight the white fly
White flies can be fought with the usual biological insect repellent:
Put your chosen home remedy into a spray bottle and spray your kale infected with cabbage moths thoroughly. Remove heavily affected leaves.
Repeat the spraying every 5 to 7 days, even some time after the flies have disappeared to destroy the newly hatching.
Can kale infected with the white fly still be eaten?
Generally, yes. White flies are neither poisonous nor inedible, but just a bit disgusting. You can leave the curly kale in water for a while after harvesting, eliminating the vast majority of flies. The larvae, however, you will not get rid of it. However, larvae are only proteins that will not harm you. If you then cook or fry your kale, the sticky secretion will also be lost. But the idea that she is lice at the moment is hardly acceptable to anybody, even if in principle there is nothing in it.