UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 609 
Contribution from Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
J&FI&J-U 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
November 22, 1917 
THE SWEET-POTATO LEAF-FOLDER. 
By Thos. H. . Tones, 1 Entomological Assistant, Track-Crop Insect Investigations. 
[With a complementary report regarding spraying experiments for its control, conducted in 
southern Texas by M. M. High.] 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
History, distribution, and synonymy 2 
Description of stages 3 
Food plants " 5 
Seasonal history and habits 5 
Page. 
Natural enemies 
The sweet-potato leaf-folder in southern Texas 
Summary 
Literature cited. .-. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The larva of Pilocr:ocis tripunctata Fab. (fig. 1 c, d), a member of 
the lepidopterous family Pyralidae, was noted first as an enemy of 
sweet potatoes in Louisiana by the writer while cooperating with the 
Louisiana Experiment Stations in the fall of 1914. Since that time 
the species has been kept under observation at Baton Rouge, La., 
and has been noted also in Plaquemines and Tangipahoa Parishes. 
The species, which may be called the " sweet-potato leaf folder " 
because of the habits of the larva, has not been observed as yet in 
destructive numbers in Louisiana : but it has been reported by Mr. 
M. M. High, of the Bureau of Entomology, as very injurious to the 
sweet potato near Brownsville, Tex., where he conducted control ex- 
periments with poisons during the fall of 1916. As it is possible that 
this pest may become an important enemy of sweet potatoes in the 
Southern States, it seems advisable to publish the results concern- 
ing its biology and the results of Mr. High's control experiments. 2 
1 The author wishes to acknowledge the issistanee of C. E. Smith and J. L. E. 
Lauderdale in the studies on the history and habits. 
2 Besides the complementary report by Mr. High, this bulletin includes notes made 
by him regarding the life history, habits, and enemies of the species in southern Texas. 
Especially because development under conditions existing in southern Texas may differ 
from that under conditions at Baton Ronge, statements taken from Mt. High's notes 
aro credited to him. All other observations were made at Baton Rogue. 
13111°— 17— Bull. 609 
