95 



The natural enemies of the tobacco worm probably 

 exert a strong influence on the abundance of this insect, 

 although definite knowledge on this point seems to be 

 lacking. The parasitic fly (Sturmia distincta, Wied.) is 

 known to attack the potato worm, and is probably 

 one of the natural enemies of the tobacco worm. 



CUT WORMS. Young 

 tobacco plants are often 

 destroyed by cut worms 

 (see Fig. 104) soon after 

 being planted in the field. 

 These are the same as, 

 or similar to, the insects 

 mentioned in connexion 

 with cotton and would 

 be controlled in the 

 tobacco field by the use 

 of poison bait in the 

 same manner as in the 

 cotton field. 



Fig. 104. Cut worm. 



(a) larva ; (b) moth. Natural size. 



(U.S. Dept. Agric.) 



THE FLEA BEETLE (Epitrix pctrvula, Fabr.). Coleoptera. 



The flea beetle (Fig. 105) is a small beetle with the 

 hind legs adapted for jumping ; it is from its possession of 



Fig. 105. Tobacco flea beetle. 



(a) beetle', (6) la'vi; (c) head oflarvz; (d) posterior ley of larva', (e) anal 



segment', (f)pupa. (a) (b) and(f) enlarged about lo turns; (c) (d) and (c) 



more enlarged. (From U. 8. Dtpt. Agric.) 



