86 IXJUEIOUS INSECTS 



fested by these insects, causing the premature decay of 

 the Tines and giving to them the appearance of having 

 been scalded. 



THE POTATO-WORM OR TOMATO-WORM. 



(Sphinx quinque-maculata, Haworth). 



This well-known insect, the larva of which is usually 

 called the Potato- worm, but it is far commoner on the 

 closely allied tomato, the foliage of which it often clears 

 oS very completely in particular spots in a single night. 

 Many persons are afraid to handle this worm, from an 

 absurd idea that it has the power of stinging with the 

 horn on its tail. This worm is shown in fig. 56, about 

 two-thirds grown. We have handled hundreds of them 

 with perfect impunity; in fact, this dreadful looking 

 horn is not peculiar to the Potato-worm, but is met with 

 in almost all the larvse of the large and beautiful group 

 to which it belongs {Sphi/ix family). It seems to have 

 no special use, but, like the bunch of hair on the breast 

 of the turkey cock, to be a mere ornamental appendage. 



When full-fed, which is usually about the last of 

 August, the Potato-worm burrows under ground and 

 shortly afterward transforms into the pupa state (fig. 57. 

 The pupa is very often dug up in the spring from ground 

 where tomatoes or potatoes were grown in the preceding 

 season ; and most persons that meet with it suppose that 

 the singular, jug-handled appendage at one end of it, is 

 its tail. In reality, however, it is the tongue-case, and 

 contains the long pliable tongue which the future moth 

 will employ in lapping up tlie nectar of the flowers, before 

 which, in the dusky gloom of some warm, balmy 

 summer's evening, it hangs for a few moments suspended 

 m the air. 



The moth itself (fig. 58), was formerly confounded 

 with the Tobacco-worm motli {Sphinx Carolina, Lin- 



