68 



FARMERS BULLETIN 856. 



Fig. 79. — The tomnto fruitworm,. bollworm. oi- corn 

 worm (Cliloridca obsoleta) : a, ^lotli, or adult 

 larva. About natural size. (Howard.) 



single application of lead arsenate at the usual rate will destroy them 

 even though crudel.v applied. Those which eat the poison first will 

 be found dead the following da}^ The remainder will be found 



on the second or third 



day. 



T05IATO KKriTWORM. 



The tomato fruit- 

 worm (fig. 79) is the 

 same insect as the boll- 

 worm of cotton and 

 the corn earworm and 

 is the cause of much 

 trouble to tomato 

 growers because of 

 its eating into the 

 ripening fruit (fig. 

 80) and destroying its 

 market value. 



Control. — Lead ar- 

 senate, 2 pounds to 25 

 gallons of water, applied two or three times, will keep the insect 

 under partial control. As long as sweet corn is growing in the 

 vicinity it attracts the worms, 

 leaving the tomatoes less sub- 

 ject to attack. Hand picking 

 is too difficult. 



CUTWORMS. 



'"Various cutworms^ attack 

 the tomato when it is set out. 

 Indeed, it is the favorite 

 food plant of most forms 

 of cutworms. For control," 

 see pages 14 to IG. 



KI.KA-HKKTLES. 



The potato flea-beetle ^ fre- 

 quently attacks tomatoes and 

 does considerable damage. 



^^;„/^.o7.— Dipping young plants in lead-arsenate solution at the 

 rate of 1 pound to 50 gallons of Avater, before setting out, will pro- 

 tect them considerably against injury. 



Bordeaux mixture also acts as a deterrent. (See p. G.) 



I'lfj. 80. — Characteristic work of the tomato 

 fruitworm. (Quaihtance aud Brues.) 



^Fpitrir cuciimcris Ilarr. 



