234 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Natural Enemies. Very frequently worms are found covered 

 with what seem to be small, white eggs. These are not eggs, how- 

 ever, but are the small silken cocoons of a little wasp-like parasite 

 (Apanteles congregatus) whose larvae feed internally upon the 

 juices of the worm and thus ultimately kill it before it transforms 

 to a pupa. Such parasitized worms should never be destroyed, 

 as the parasites are of more value than the damage the worm 

 might do. Very frequently the caterpillars are attacked by a bac- 

 terial disease which causes them to turn dark and become shrunken 

 and flaccid. 



The Budworms * 



Two caterpillars of the same genus commonly attack the bud 

 of tobacco and have been distinguished by Dr. L. O. Howard as 

 the true bud worm and false budworm, the latter being the same 

 as the well-known cotton bollworm and corn ear-worm. 



FIG. 167. The true budworm (Chloridea virescens): a, adult moth; b, full- 

 grown larva, from side; c, same, from above; d, seed-pod bored into by 

 larva; e, pupa natural size. (After Howard, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



" The true budworm (Chloridea virescens) occurs in the more 

 southern portions of the tobacco-growing regions," says Dr. How- 

 ard, f " but has not been noted in tobacco-fields north of Maryland. 

 The adult insect is a small greenish moth, well illustrated in 

 Fig. 167. The larva or caterpillar of this moth, also illustrated, is 



* Chloridea virescens Fab., and Heliothis obsolete. Fab. Family Noctuida. 

 t Farmers' Bulletin 120, U. S. Dept. Agr. The Principal Insects Affecting 

 the Tobacco Plant. 



