MISC. PUBLICATION 626, U. S. DEPT.* OP AGRICULTURE 



It is a general feeder and may attack 

 almost any kind of garden plant. It 

 devours the leaves, tender stems, buds, 

 and flowers, and imparts a ragged ap- 

 pearance to the plants. Among the 

 many plants attacked are calendula, 

 calla, canna, chrysanthemum, coleus, 

 dahlia, fuchsia, hollyhock, moonflower, 

 morning-glory, petunia, salvia, snap- 

 dragon, sunflower, verbena, and violet. 

 The caterpillar (fig. 5) is about 2 inches 

 long when full-grown and is covered 

 with many long hairs, which are usually 

 pale yellow, brownish yellow, or fox red 

 and give the caterpillar its characteristic 

 color and appearance. It is especially 

 prevalent during July and August and 

 overwinters in cocoons constructed from 

 its wooly coat and silk, under loose 

 shelters, such as trash, dead leaves, and 

 clods of earth. Sometimes many co- 

 coons, even 20 or 30, are made under 

 the same shelter. The salt-marsh cater- 

 pillar (Estigmene acrea (Drury)) is also 

 one of the woolly bears which may at 

 times invade the flower garden and 

 injure plants. 



Figure 5. — A yellow woolly bear cater- 

 pillar feeding on chrysanthemum. 

 Natural size. 



Treatment. — Spray or dust with 

 lead arsenate. 



Prevention. — Destroy clusters of 

 overwintering cocoons wherever they 

 are found in sheltered places. 



HORNWORMS 



The hornworms commonly found 

 feeding on the foliage of plants and 

 shrubs «are large caterpillars, 3 to 4 

 inches long when full-grown, with a 

 short fleshy projection, or "horn," on 

 top of the last body segment. The 

 purpose of this horn is not known, but 

 it is not poisonous. These caterpillars 

 develop into sphinx or hawk moths, 

 which in size and flight roughly re- 

 semble hummingbirds. The tobacco 

 hornworm (Protoparce sexta (Johan.)) 

 is usually pale green with oblique 

 whitish stripes on each side of the body. 

 The tomato hornworm (Protoparce quin- 

 quemaculata (Haw.)) is similar in appear- 

 ance (fig. 6), but has a V-shaped mark- 

 ing on each body segment: it is most 

 common in the Northern States. The 

 white-lined sphinx (Celerio lineata (F.)) 

 varies from green to blackish, with 

 narrow broken lines on the back, and 

 the head and horn are yellow or orange. 



Figure 6. — Tomato hornworm. About 

 one-half natural size. 



Treatment. — Because of their large 

 size the hornworms can easily be col- 

 lected and killed. Their protective 

 coloration often makes it difficult to see 

 them when at rest, but they are more 

 readily seen when feeding. The pres- 

 ence of small pellets of excrement on 

 the ground or on leaves is good evidence 

 of their presence. 



Do not destroy any hornworm cater- 

 pillars that are covered with white 

 objects on their backs, because these 

 objects are the cocoons of parasitic 

 insects that prey upon and kill the 

 hornworms. Killing the parasitized 

 caterpillar destroys the parasites also 

 and thus prevents the continuation of 

 their good work. 



If a heavy infestation exists, dust or 

 spray with lead arsenate. Derris or 

 pyrethrum will usually be effective 

 against the very young caterpillars. 



