6 



Farmers' Bulletin 819. 



Continued observations in the Florida shade-tobacco district, how- 

 ever, have made it apparent that in this region, at least, the tobacco 

 budworm feeds sparingly, if at all, upon plants other than tobacco 

 with the exception of beggarweed, which is fed upon to some extent 

 during the fall months. 



PREDACIOUS AND PARASITIC ENEMIES. 



One of the important enemies of the tobacco budworm is a greenish 

 spider,® Avhich is extremely common on tobacco stalks in the South. 



A certain wasp" also destroys many of the larger larv». 



A fly ^'^ closely resembling the common house fly acts as a parasitic 

 enemy of the budworm. This fly deposits eggs upon the body of the 



Fig. 2. — Injury to tobacco plant liy the toliacco budworm. 



worm. These eggs hatch into tiny maggots, which burroAv into the 

 body of their host and after feeding there for some time finally 

 destroy it. 



The most important parasite of the tobacco budw^orm, however, 

 is a small, black- winged, red-bodied, w^asplike insect ^^ which de- 

 posits its eggs in the bodies of the larvge. These eggs hatch into 

 maggots whicli ultimately destroy the worm. This parasitic insect 

 may be seen continually flying from plant to plant examining the 

 buds in search of budworms. Many farmers mistake these insects 

 for the adult form of the budworm and often destroy them. Having 

 seen the parasites enter the buds and fly away, the planters have 

 examined the buds and, having found the small budworm wdthin, 

 have supposed that they were left there by the parasite. 



* Peucetia vividans Hentz. 

 " P<ylistes ielHcosus Cress, 



10 Sarcopharja sternodoniis Townsend. 

 " Toxoiieura sp. 



