HANDBOOK OX INSECT ENEMIES OF FLOWERS AND SHRUBS 29 



Figure 46. — Feeding injury and dark 

 spots of excreta left by the chrysan- 

 themum lacebug. Slightly reduced. 



Corn Earworm 



The corn earworm (Heliothis armigera 

 CHbn.)), also known as the tomato fruit- 

 worm and the cotton bollworm, is better 

 known for its ravages in the vegetable 

 than in the flower garden. Neverthe- 

 less, it is a pest of annual and perennial 

 flowers and attacks abutilon, ageratum. 

 amaranth, canna, carnation, chrysan- 

 themum, dahlia, geranium, gladiolus, 

 hibiscus, mignonette, morning-glory, 

 nasturtium, phlox, poppy, rose, sun- 

 flower, and sweet pea. The caterpillars 

 show a marked preference for the open- 

 ing buds and flowers of chrysanthemum, 

 calendula, dahlia, gladiolus (fig. 47. A , 

 and rose, although they also feed on the 

 leaves and may tunnel the stems of 

 certain plants. Their injury to the 

 buds is not unlike that by climbing cut- 

 worms, with which they are often con- 

 fused. They gouge out the inner part 

 so deeply that the flowers are a com- 

 plete loss. The caterpillars (fig. 47, B) 

 when full-grown are about l 1 * inches 

 long, and their color may change from 

 reddish brown to green, with brown, 

 black, or green stripes, as they mature. 

 The parent is a fawn-colored moth with 

 dark spots on the forewings. 



Treatment. — Dusting or spraying 

 two or three times with lead arsenate, 

 or with calcium arsenate, paris green, or 

 cryolite (pp. 95,96, 97), will be of some 

 value. If the flower buds have been 

 bored into there is little that can be done 

 74949y— 48 3 



Figure 47. — A, Corn earworm boring 

 in a gladiolus flower; B, caterpillar, 

 natural size. 



except to remove and destroy the worm- 

 infested buds. 



Prevention. — Screen choice and val- 

 uable plants with cheesecloth to prevent 

 them from becoming infested. 



