108 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



As the early spring moths deposit from 400 to 1,200 eggs within a 

 period of ten days, the importance of destroying the pupae and as 

 many of the early spring moths as possible can not be emphasized 

 too strongly. 



A four- winged fly belonging to the family Braconidse was found 

 quite numerous in some tobacco fields. The insect has been deter- 

 mined by Dr. Wm. H. Ashmead as Toxoneuron seminigra Cress. 

 Doctor Ashmead states that it may be found to be parasitic on the 

 budworm. 



THE HORN WORMS OR TOBACCO WORMS. 



(Phlegethontius quinquemaculata Haw., and Phlegethontius sexta Job.) 



A few eggs of the hornworms or tobacco worms were observed on 

 the tobacco leaves, both in the seed bed and in the field, on April 20. 

 They do but little injury before the middle of May, at which time it 

 is the practice of many planters to commence using the powder gun 

 with 1 pound of Paris green to 5 of lime, applications being made 

 twice each week and continued until harvesting commences. Others 

 practice picking in place of the powder guns, women and children 

 going through the fields and examining the plants for worms. On 

 one plantation visited when the moths begin to appear the superin- 

 tendent offers a reward, usually 1 cent each, for the moths captured. 

 In this way many are destroyed, being killed by the men, who find 

 them on the plants and in the shade field on the posts when hoeing, 

 the stimulus of the reward keeping them constantly on the lookout 

 for the moths. This destruction of the moths before they lay is very 

 important when we consider the large number of eggs that are 

 deposited. 



Paris green has been applied by spraying, but is now entirely 

 replaced by dusting (1 pound of Paris green to 5 pounds of lime) 

 with a blowgun. Aside from the effect of the Paris green (applied 

 with a blowgun) on the hornworm, it aids in controlling the bud- 

 worms, grasshoppers, flea-beetles, etc. The one disadvantage in its 

 use lies in occasional burning when the application is followed by a 

 light rain — one insufficient to wash off the Paris green before burning 

 takes place. One field of sun tobacco was observed that had been 

 burnt quite badly in this way. Care should be taken to avoid this, 

 and also to see that the application is not made shortly before or 

 closely following the spraying of emulsion for the thrips. It is a 

 good plan to apply it as near as possible to the time of applications of 

 Paris green and meal for the budworms. This will, of course, apply 

 only to shade tobacco on which emulsion spray is used. 



The hornworms of the second brood, which appear in July, are 

 injurious in that they are likely to be taken into the barn on the 

 tobacco when harvested and there consume the whole leaf and often 



