By William J. Reid, Jr., and Frank P. Cuthbert, Jr., 

 entomologists, Entomology Research Division, Agricul- 

 tural Research Service 



The insect known as the pickleworm * gets 

 its name from the fact that it feeds on cucum- 

 bers, although it feeds on all cucurbit plants. It 

 attacks only the growing plants and fruits. 



The pickleworm causes serious damage to 

 cucumber, summer squash, and cantaloup in all 

 the South Atlantic and Gulf States and occa- 

 sionally causes damage as far west as Oklahoma 

 and Nebraska, and as far north as Iowa and 

 Connecticut. Unless effective control measures 

 are used, profitable production of these crops 

 usually is impossible when the insect becomes 

 abundant. The insect sometimes attacks other 

 cucurbit crops, including winter squash, pump- 

 kin, watermelon, and gourd, and several wild 

 cucurbit plants. 



DEVELOPMENT 



Adults of the pickleworm are moths. Their bodies and 

 wings, viewed from above, are yellowish brown and have 

 a purple sheen. The wingspread is about 1*4 inches. 

 At the tip of the abdomen the moths have a brushlike 

 appendage, which they wave while resting. 



The female moths lay eggs at night, singly and in 

 clusters, among the hairs on flower and leaf buds, tender 

 leaves, and stalks or vines, and on young fruits. The 



1 Diaphania nitidalis. 



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