50 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Jan., 1910^ 



A NEW FRUIT PEST. 



Tomato Moth. 



{Hcliothis ar»iigt:ia, Hubn.) 

 C. French, Jiiiir., Assistant Government Entomologist. 



This exceptionally common insect, known as the Tomato Moth, Cut- 

 worm, &c., is unfoitunately too well known to need a detailed description,, 

 as much has been written about it by entomologists. But, for growers- 

 who are not acquainted with it, the accompanying plate will serve to show 

 what the insect is like. It has a bad reputation as a destroyer of tomatoes; 

 in fact, hardly any vegetable or garden plant comes amiss to the larva of 

 this insect. Tomatoes arriving from the other States are often badly 

 attacked, and much loss results to the growers. 



During November I received specimens of apricots and caterpillars- 

 attacking the same from the Department of Agriculture of South Australia 

 for identification. They were the above-named insect, and in South 

 Australia were causing much damage to stone fruits,. Mr. Geo. Quinn, 

 the Chief Horticultural Expert, is under the impression that the same cater- 

 pillar is causing damage to apples in that State. A grower from Western 

 Australia also informs me that Cutworms cause considerable damage to- 

 stone fruits in his State. 



Recently, Mr. S. A. Cock, Vegetation Diseases Inspector in the Bendigo- 

 district, forwarded some plums damaged by caterpillars. At mv request 

 he sent the following notes on his observations of the pest: — 



" It is the first time that I have been able to catch the caterpillar at 

 work, although last vear I noticed plums and apples affected in the same 

 way. Seeing the looper caterpillars on the trees, I blamed them, although 

 I could scarcely credit them with making such a deep bore into the fruit. 

 This caterpillar attacks the green fruit on the tree in exactly the same 

 manner as it does the tomato, making directly for the kernel of the fruit, 

 and when it has de.stroyed that, either withdraws and attacks another fruit, 

 or bores clean through and attacks the adjoining fruit. One caterpillar 

 will destroy many plums, apricots, or apples. The young caterpillars live 

 or. the leaves of the tree, and I have observed both large and small larvae 

 eating the foliage. The pest is verv severe on plums, and plays sad havoc 

 where the crop is heavy, boring out whole bunches. The plums wither, 

 and then drop off. The plum most attacked is the Diamond. I have 

 also observed the pest attacking apricots, and on Friday last detected it on- 

 the apples. The apples attacked were not sprayed, and were eaten into 

 the pip, and hollowed out in the same manner as the plums and apricots. 

 The pest is in Harcourt, Walmer, Maldon, and other places." 



It is most unfortunate that it has developed a liking for fruits as the 

 moths of this species are found in countless numbers in all parts of Vic- 

 toria. The egg or eggs are deposited on the leaves or fruits of the tree, 

 and the young, after being hatched, feed on the leaves for a short time, 

 and bore into the fruit (see figures on plate), eating the centre out and 

 in some instances leaving only a thin skin. The\- then eat their way out 

 through the opposite side and continue this procedure through manv fruits, 

 as mentioned above by Mr. Cock. 



Spraying with arsenate of lead has proved successful when the fruit 

 is voung, but should not he used when it is ripening. During 

 October and November, when the moths are hatchinfj; out from their 



