156 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



green with a row of spots along each side of the back. The spiracles, 

 just above the feet, are margined with black and yellow. A pale 

 yellow line extends down the middle of the back. The chrysalis is dark 

 brown. 



Distribution. — Common throughout the entire State. 

 Food Plants. — The larvie of this species are so common as to be 

 often mistaken for other members of the family. They are usually 

 found feeding upon the foliage of the apple, grape, pear, melon and 

 tomato vines. 



THE TOMATO SPHINX. 



Phlegethontius sexta Jolian. (Family Spbingidse.) 



{Protoparce sexta Johan.) 



(Protoparce Carolina Linn.) 



(Fig. 137.) 



General Appearance. — The larvae of this moth are exceedingly 

 large, often attaining a length of nearly four inches. They are green 

 in color with showy oblique, white stripes, and highly colored spiracles 



Fig. 137. — Larva of the tomato sphinx (Phlcfjcthontius sexta Jolian.). 



Natural size. (After Folsom.) 



along the side. They always have the characteristic curved spine on 

 the last segment, which is red in this species. The crysalis is rich 

 brown and nearly two inches long. The adults are two inches long, 

 having a wing expanse of from four to five inches. The general color 

 is gray with orange or yellow spots on each side of the abdomen. 

 Figure 138 shows the color patterns very well. 



Distribution. — Exceedingly common throughout the entire State. 



Food Plants. — The larvae work largely upon tomato plants, often 

 defoliating large areas. They also attack potato, tobacco and various 

 Solaiiacece. 



Natural Enemies. — Internal parasites perform an important part 

 in the control of this pest and are resj)onsible for the comparatively 

 small amount of damage done. 



