A 



TC-7346. TC-7347 



Piekleworm adults: .4. Male; B, female. 



areas in the South where the insect overwinters. Larvae 

 usually are present on cultivated hosts in destructive 

 numbers during the last of March and in April in the 

 lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Damage by the 

 insect has occurred in Missouri during late July and in 

 August. 



DAMAGE 



Young pickleworms feed at first at the surface of the 

 parts of the plant where they hatch. The surfaces of 

 flower buds, terminal buds, and young fruits are favorite 

 locations. The larvae continue feeding by tunneling 

 into flowers, buds, stalks, vines, and fruits. Flowers may- 

 be destroyed. Injury to small fruits may destroy them or 

 cause them to become deformed as they grow. Larger 

 fruits may be made unfit for food, and entire plants 

 injured or killed. Plant disease organisms often gain 

 entrance through the tunnels made by pickleworms. 



CONTROL 



Cultural practices aid in preventing pickleworm dam- 

 age, but they cannot be relied on for control of the insect. 

 Application of insecticide is the chief means of control. 



CULTURAL PRACTICES 



Early planting is of value in areas where the insect does 

 not appear until late spring or summer. Ask your county 

 agricultural agent about best time for planting. 



In semitropical areas in southern Florida and south- 

 ern Texas it may be helpful to destroy, if feasible, native 

 host plants such as wild or creeping cucumber and 

 Okeechobee gourd. 



Fall and winter cleanup measures and use of a trap 

 crop do not appear to be of value. 



