INSECT PESTS 211 



Velvethean Caterpillar '^ 



Importance. The velvethean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatilis 

 (Hbn.), is a serious pest of peanuts in Alahama, Florida and Georgia, 

 where it appears to be increasing in importance. During the past 10 years 

 some damage from this insect has occurred locally each year, and severe 

 outbreaks over the peanut-growing sections of these States were recorded 

 in 1939, 1944, 1946 and 1948 (65, 52, 6, 7). Prior to this time the insect 

 had been considered of little or no importance on peanuts, although it 

 had received some attention on other crops. 



A. gemmatilis damage to velvetbeans in Florida in 1903 was described 

 by Chittenden (28). For several subsequent years, damage from the 

 insect appears to have been observed primarily on velvetbeans. In 1918, 

 Watson (149) reported A. gemmatilis attacked peanuts only when the 

 crop was grown adjacent to velvetbeans, and stated that the adults hacj 

 never been known to oviposit on peanuts under natural conditions. 

 Later Watson (153) reported extensive velvethean caterpillar damage 

 to peanuts and soybeans. Additional damage to crops has been listed by 

 others (46, 73, 65, 50, 122). Purswell (122) concluded that the insect 

 causes economic damage to peanuts, soybeans, kudzu, alfalfa and velvet- 

 beans, and also attacks cowpeas, string beans, lima beans, sesbania, black 

 locust, horse bean and cotton. Severe damage to crops has been reported 

 from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, 

 South Carolina and Texas. 



The velvethean caterpillar feeds upon the leaves of peanuts. Heavy 

 infestations cause complete defoliation of the plants, including destruc- 

 tion of terminal buds. The yield of peanuts is reduced and additional 

 losses result from the shedding of pods in the soil at harvest ( 52, 6) . The 

 yield of hay is also reduced. 



Reliable data on losses from velvethean caterpillar are difficult to 

 obtain. In 1944, the estimated loss in Alabama was placed as high as 10 

 million dollars, approximately one-third the value of the crop in the State 

 (122). In 1946, the loss in Georgia was estimated at 4 million dollars, 

 and the saving resulting from control at nearly 10 million dollars ; in Ala- 

 bama the loss was estimated at 500 thousand dollars and the saving from 

 control at over 5 million dollars.^ The extent of control operations in 

 Alabama is indicated by the fact that approximately 4 million pounds of 

 cryolite and 300 thousand pounds of other insecticides were applied in 

 1946. 



' Estimate compiled by U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. 



