TOMATO PESTS 



1983 



The caterpillar has five longitudinal yel- 

 low stripes. 



Spray with lead arsenate or zinc arsen- 

 ite. 



J. R. Watson 



Sharpshooters. See Bugs, this sec- 

 tion. 



SoLANUM Mealy Bug. See Potato Pests. 

 Stink Bug. See Bugs, this section. 



Sphinxes 



Tobacco Sphinx 



Phlegethontius quinquemaculata Haw. 

 (Family Sphingidae) 



Protoparce quinquemaculata Haw. 

 Protoparce celeus Hubn. 



General Appearance 



All forms of this species greatly re- 

 semble those of the tomato worm in size 

 and general appearance. The lateral 

 oblique white stripes of the larvae do not 

 extend as far up the back in the tobac- 

 co worm as in the tomato worm. There 

 are also longitudinal white stripes below 

 the spiracles, forming "Vs" with the obli- 

 que stripes. The horn at the tip of the 

 body is black. The chrysalis has a much * 

 longer tongue case in this species than 

 has that of the tomato worm. The adults 

 are about the same size, this species be- 

 ing duller and with less distinct white 

 markings. The abdomen is more pointed; 

 the spots are lighter orange in color and 

 two less in number than in the tomato 

 sphinx. 



Fig. 1. The Tobacco Sphinx (Phlegethontius 

 quinquemaculata Haw.) at Left and the To- 

 mato Sphinx (Phlegethontius sexta Johan. ) 

 at Right. The chrysalis and larva are of 

 the tobacco sphinx. (Original.) 



Food Plants 



The principal food plants of this in- 



sect are tobacco and tomato, though they 

 feed upon various varieties of the Solana- 

 ceae. 



IVatural Enemies 



Internal parasites prey upon the larvae 

 and greatly aid in keeping down the num- 

 bers. 



White-Lined Sphinx ob Morning 

 Sphinx. See page 755. 



Tomato Sphinx 



Phlegethontius sexta Johan. 



(Family Sphingidae) 



Protoparce sexta Johan. 



Protoparce Carolina Linn, 



General Appearance 



The larvae of this moth are exceedingly 

 large, often attaining a length of nearly 

 four inches. They are green in color with 

 showy, oblique white stripes, and highly 

 colored spiracles along the side. They 

 always have the characteristic curved 

 spine on the last segment, which is red 

 in this species. The chrysalis is rich 

 brown and nearly two inches long. The 

 adults are two inches long, having a wing 

 expanse of from four to five inches. The 

 general color is gray with orange or yel- 

 low spots on each side of the abdomen. 



Distribution 



Exceedingly common. 



Food Plants 



The larvae work largely upon tomato 

 plants, often defoliating large areas. They 

 also attack potato, tobacco and various 

 Solanaceae. 



Natural Enemies 



Internal parasites perform an impor- 

 tant part in the control of this pest and 

 are responsible for the comparatively 

 small amount of damage done. 



E. O. EssiG 



Suck Fly 



Dicyphus minimus Uhler 



This small bug which is a serious pest 

 of tobacco, occasionally attacks tomatoes 

 and eggplants in the early fall. 



The adult is about one-eighth of an 

 inch in length. Quaintance found that a 

 strong tobacco infusion was the best 



