BIOLOGY OF TOBACCO MOTH AND ITS CONTROL 



The infested tobacco leaf may be rendered worthless by the larvae, 

 although in some instances a part of the leaf can be salvaged. 

 Studies showed that by a conservative estimate 20 percent by weight 

 of each pound of heavily infested tobacco was lost, this loss being 

 chargeable directly to the moth. Flue-cured tobacco, aged and 

 redried, will average in value at present prices ( November 1936) 

 around 30 cents per pound. The loss per infested hogshead for each 

 inch of infestation based on the foregoing figures would be 

 follows : 



as 



Figure 2. — Hogshead of flue-cured cigarette-type tobacco 4^ feet high aud 4 feet iu diam- 

 eter at left. The weight of the tobacco in this hogshead was approximately 1,000 

 pounds. The case of cigarette-type tobacco at right, 30 by 30 by 48 inches, contained 

 about 500 pounds of flue-cured tobacco. 



1 inch $7.08 



2 inches 13. 55 



3 inches 19. 45 



There are more than 650,000 hogsheads (650 million pounds) of 

 flue-cured tobacco in storage in the United States at all seasons of the 

 year. This enormous stock in storage emphasizes the importance of 

 exercising precautions to control infestations of the tobacco moth, for 

 if 300,000 hogsheads should become infested during the season to a 

 depth of 1 inch, which is well within the realm of possibility, the loss 

 to the industry would be approximately $2,124,000 annually. 



The tobacco case shown in figure 2 measures 30 by 30 by 48 inches 

 and contains about 500 pounds of tobacco. Only a small' percentage 

 of the total quantity of cigarette tobacco is packed in cases. 



GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE INSECT 



THE ADULT 



The coloration of tobacco moths is variable; some are gray, others 

 light grayish brown. The forewings and body of newly emerged 

 specimens often have a brownish tinge. Two light-colored bands 

 extend across each forewing. The adults kept in captivity often 

 lose many of the wing scales and soon appear light gray in color. 



