INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



383 



before the worms are detected. Because of their large size and char- 

 acteristic work, they are comparatively easy to locate, and upon these 

 facts are based the method of hand picking as a control measure. 

 The worms are either gathered and destroyed or simply cut in two 

 with a pair of scissors. Poison sprays will also serve to hold them in 

 check and are being largely used to control the tobacco worm in the 

 commercial plantings of tobacco. 



THE WHITE-LINED SPHINX 



Celerio lincata (Fabricius) 

 (Deilephila lincata Fabricius) 



(Fig's. 381, 382) 



Description. — The moths are quite large, having a wing expanse of 

 nearly 3| inches. The fore wings are greenish- gray with broad brown 

 bands on the front and apical margins and in the middle of each. The 

 veins are white. The hind wings are very small, dark brown, with a 

 wide lighter band across the middle of each. The thorax is grayish 

 with distinct white lines, while the abdomen is dark green, marked 

 with black and white spots. The larvae are quite large, often more 

 than 3 inches long. The color varies considerably, there being two 

 distinct forms : a light green and a black, the former being quite rare, 

 while the latter greatly predominates. The green forms are rich 

 green with yellow head and horn at posterior end, a row of light- 



Fig. 381. 



-Adult female of the white-lined sphinx, Celerio lineata 

 (Fab.). Natural size. (Original) 



and black spots along each side of the back and beautiful colored 

 spots along the sides around the spiracles. The black forms are 

 enlirely black with a dorsal and several lateral longitudinal yellow 

 stripes. The head and horn are also yellow. Both forms are the same 

 size and vary from 2 to 3 inches long and i inch thick. The pupae 

 are reddish-brown and about 1^ inches long. 



Distribution. — This is a very common moth throughout the entire 

 State, being specially abundant in the warmer interior valleys. 



Food Plants. — The caterpillars are omnivorous feeders and may be 

 found attacking a large number of plants. Those recorded are apple, 



