On Chinese cabbage, the number of S. litura larvae (2nd to 3rd instar) which caused 5% damage was estimated as 2.9/100 plants 5 days after transplanting, and 5.6/100 plants 20 days after transplanting. Please refer the following article for more information.
Control Thresholds for Managing Common Cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Faricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Chinese Cabbage