I SURE as heck hope that you 'knocked on wood' as you wrote that!! ;-) It is worthy noting, seriously, that severe outbreaks of pest insects can be cyclical. Also, if you happened to use Bt-K to help control the caterpillars last year, the bacterium can still be active in your environment.

Rhizo, I had them badly last year. I think I tried one early spraying of BT, but hated the smell of the stuff. I tried to stay up with them, but couldn't. I didn't even plant broccoli & cabbage this spring, but I only pulled a couple of loopers off my winter kale this spring - I was surprised at that. Or is it that they just don't like kale? Seems to me my spring kale last year got eaten, too.

I have had a terrible time with cabbage worms on my broccoli... almost every plant pretty much looks like swiss cheese... just when I think Ive smooshed everyone... there is another one! UGH. Next year Im going to do the little net bag thing and see how that works. I've also go terrible flea beetles. It aint easy gardening the organic way!