TOMATO 
 HORNWORMS 
 
 fl, Moth (or adult) with wings spread; b, egg; c, tyrvi, dark form; 
 cL pupa (or resting stage); *, larva of the other species, light 
 form, {a about three-fourths natural size; b about 4 times 
 natural size: c, d, and e about onchalf natural siae. 
 
 (See other side for life history and control; 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 Picture Sheet No. 1 
 
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 IMllllllllllI 
 
 TOMATO HORNWORMS 3 1262 09082 4839 
 
 i Protoparce spp.) 
 
 Life History 
 
 The eggs of tomato hornworms are laid on the under side of the 
 leaves. These eggi> hatch in from 6 to 8 days. The resulting larvae 
 Peed on the leaves and sometimes on the fruits. The larva reaches 
 full growth in 3 or I weeks, during which time it passes through 
 five or six stages, or instars. The full-grown larva then burrows 
 several inches into the ground and changes to a pupa, or resting 
 stage. The pupa may remain in the soil all winter and transform 
 to the moth stage in the spring, or, if weather conditions are suit- 
 able, the moth may emerge from the pupa after the expiration of 
 from 2 to 4 weeks. In any event, the emerging moth makes its way 
 to the soil surface and deposits eggs on tomato plants for the next 
 brood of hornworms. 
 
 Control 
 
 Hand-pick the hornworms from infested plants in gardens or 
 small fields. 
 
 There is no entirely satisfactory method for the control of to- 
 mato hornworms in large fields. Dusting the tomato plants with a 
 mixture composed of equal parts of calcium arsenate and hydrated 
 lime will prevent damage to some extent. The dust mixture should 
 be applied directly to all parts of the plants. The treatments should 
 begin early in the season and be repeated at weekly or 10-day inter- 
 vals until the earliest formed fruits on the plants are about half 
 grown. 
 
 Caution: Do not apply calcium arsenate, or any other insecticide 
 that may leave a harmful residue, to tomato plants after the earliest 
 formed fruits are approximately half grown, unless it is known defi- 
 nitely that washing or wiping will remove all harmful residues from 
 the fruit before it is marketed or consumed. 
 
 j VLne vx >- r. S. Government Printing Office 
 
 i ,|,. by the Superintendent <>i* Documents, Washington, D. C— Price f> centa