CHAPTER VII 



TOMATO INSECTS 



Many potato insects also attack the tomato. The most 

 important of these are the potato flea-beetle and the Colorado 

 potato beetle. In the South, the corn ear-worm is usually 

 the most destructive pest to be contended with and the tomato 

 worms often cause serious loss. 



The Tomato Worms 



Throughout the United States and southern Canada, tomatoes 

 are subject to attack by large greenish or brownish caterpillars 

 3 or 4 inches in length which are provided with a sharp horn 

 on the back near the hind end of the body. They are also 

 known as horn-worms and tobacco worms. These tomato 

 worms belong to two distinct species. The areas occupied by 

 the two forms overlap to a considerable extent. Throughout 

 the greater part of the United States, caterpillars of both species 

 are found feeding together, the relative abundance varying 

 from place to place and from year to year. The northern form 

 ranges from Canada to Florida westward to the Pacific. The 

 southern species breeds from Massachusetts, New Jersey, 

 Ohio and Illinois southward through the West Indies to 

 Patagonia. Both species occur in California. In addition 

 to tomato, eggplant, potato and pepper are sometimes 

 attacked. 



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