10 



The false budworru is not a tobacco pest primarily, but in the 

 absence of other food plants will infest the young tobacco buds. The 

 insect is most widely recognized under the name the "cotton boll- 

 worm" of the Southern States. Regarding its appearance in tobacco 

 fields. Doctor Howard says: 



The eggs are deposited in the bud, and the larvae do very serious harm by feeding 

 on the young and as yet unfolded leaves. A large worm may quite devour a bud. 

 In color and markings the false budworm is one of the most variable of caterpillars. 

 On tobacco the writer has found specimens of a uniform, light-green color, without 

 spot or stripe, and others the general effect of which was nearly black. This insect, 

 like the true budworm, passes the winter in the pupa condition under the surface of 

 the ground. 



Even if the young buds are not destroyed the resulting holes would 

 prohibit the use of the leaves for Avrappers. 



REMEDIES. 



Cultural methods as already outlined and the arsenical mixtures as 

 recommended for the flea-beetle and the splitworm will control the 

 false budworm under ordinary conditions. Should it occur in an}' 

 numbers, special efforts must be directed toward its destruction. 

 Mr. Quaintance thus describes a common practice in Florida: 



A very usual practice, and one that has proven to be quite satisfactory, is to 

 sprinkle poisoned corn meal in the bud. The poisoned mixture should be prepared 

 as follows: To a quart of finely ground corn meal add a half teaspoonful of Paris 

 green and mix thoroughly by stirring. To apply this, a sprinkler should be made by 

 using a baking-powder can, in the lid or bottom of which numerous holes have been 

 punched so that, when it is shaken, the poisoned corn meal may be peppered over 

 the bud. The poison should be applied frequently, and after heavy rains. In the 

 case of large plants it may be necessary to open the buds with the hands and drop in a 

 pinch of the poison. 



THE TOBACCO H0RNW0RM. 



(Phlegetltoiitius quinquemaculata Haw. ) « 



The larva of this Sphingid moth is one of the " horn worms," so 

 named because of the peculiar ornamentation at the rear end of the 

 body, and is one of two species of this group affecting tobacco. 

 This horn worm is commonly known in the United States as the north- 

 ern tobacco worm, likewise as the tomato worm, and is probably the 

 best-known representative of the larvae of this family, since specimens 

 can always be found wherever the principal food plants, tomatoes, 

 tobacco, and potatoes, are growing throughout America. 



The insect is recorded from these islands by Meyrick. 8 It was col- 

 lected and previously recorded by the Rev. Thomas Blackburn. 



( 1 Sphinx • celeus, Protoparce celeus, P. blaekbilrni, etc., are synonyms. 

 & Fauna Hawaiiensis, Vol. I, Part II, p. 193, 1899. 



