ra. r 



Insect Pests of Tobacco in Southern 

 Rhodesia. 



By Rupert W. Jack, F.E.S., Government Entomologist. 



Tobacco in Southern Rhodesia is not as yet attacked by 

 insect pests to an extent equal to what appears to be tHe case 

 in some other countries. Comparing our condition with parts 

 of the tobacco growing area of the United States of America, 

 we may congratulate ourselves that we have no "horn worm," 

 no " true budworm," and no " flea beetle " to contend with. 

 At the same time, there are several pests in this country which 

 do not occur in the United States, whilst certain pests common 

 to the two countries are at least as destructive in this territory 

 as across the water. It is really astonishing to observe the 

 number of insects that will eat tobacco, and it is owing purely 

 to the tremendous vitality of the plant that the aggregate 

 damage is not greater. The most troublesome pests, from their 

 general prevalence, are the cutworms, especially in the seed- 

 beds. The stem borer (Phthorimaea Heliopa) and the so-called 

 " wireworms " sometimes cause serious and unexpected losses 

 in the field. The root gall worm (Heterodera radicicola) is a 

 serious tobacco pest occurring in the territory, but as yet only 

 once reported as affecting tobacco. To avoid the introduction 

 of this trouble into tobacco lands calls for watchfulness on the 

 part of the growers. 



The writer owes it to himself to state that the following 

 notes on the pests of tobacco in Southern Rhodesia are very 

 incomplete, as comparatively little time has been available for 



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