That wasp just did you a favor. The "green goo" that was in its mouth was most likely a cabbage worm or looper. The worms/loopers are the ones eating holes in your leaves. Lots of info available on how to control or prevent them if you do a search here.

Rodney

You're right. I went back out after the searing sun had gone over the trees and found many worms, munching away. Going to start researching the best way to rid the garden area of them now.

Lucky you--beneficial wasps are the best control available & they're free! I was so happy when they finally found my yard, and allowed me to grow brassicas without pesticides or netting.

Your options at this point are hand picking the caterpillars and squishing the eggs or using BT kurstaki which is a worm and caterpillar specific organic insecticide. I would do both myself, squish and then mix up a spray bottle of the BTK and spray both the top and bottom of the leaves. When the cats hatch they begin eating and ingest the BTK and it causes them to stop eating and die.

Or you can get more wasps!

Htwo, I too had the same experience a few days ago. It's my first time growing broccoli but I wasn't surprised to see holes because I hear so many people talk about caterpillars and BT spray for brassicas. My plants (and broccoli heads) are about the same size as yours, if not a tiny bit bigger. LoneJack and others, how fast can a caterpillar defoliate a broccoli plant? If I'm harvesting the broccoli in about two weeks, should I even worry about treating the caterpillars? If so, I'll pick up some BT concentrate and spray it in the next few days after it stops raining.

Sunflowers- Depends on how many caterpillars there are and how many predators (such as wasps) there are. If you don't want to treat the plants or pick off the caterpillars yourself then I suggest you soak the broccoli head in saltwater before eating or cooking.

Rodney

Otherwise there could be extra...protein in my broccoli head?!

*runs to the store for BT*