Tobacco Insects

Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens)

The tobacco budworm is I 112 inches long (38 mm). pale green in color, marked with several longitudinal pale stripes. The female moths lay their eggs in or near the bud of tobacco plants and the tiny larvae begin feeding in the unfolded leaflets of the plants. This feeding leaves the plants ragged in appearance. If the bud is completely destroyed the plants "sucker out" producing several stems rather than one main stem.

Tobacco budworm

Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta)

The tobacco hornworm is one of the largest insects that damage tobacco. The larvae are greenish in color with white bars on their sides and with a slender reddish horn projecting from near the rear end. They may reach 3 to 4 inches (7.5-10cm) in length and are such ravenous feeders that they may completely defoliate plants if not controlled.

Tobacco hornworm

Tobacco Flea Beetle (Epitrix hirtipennis)

The tobacco flea beetle is a brownish-black, hard-shelled beetle about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) in length. Adult flea beetles chew small round holes into and through the tobacco leaf. They attack the young plants in the seed-beds almost as soon as they come up. After the plants are set in the field they continue feeding and this feeding can weaken the plants or kill the buds. Damage may continue throughout the growing season even on mature leaves. Flea beetles lay their eggs on the soil and the delicate, white larvae feed on the roots of the plants.

Tobacco flea beetle damage

Granulate Cutworm (Feltia subterrunea)

The granulate cutworm is dark gray to sandy brown in color, about I 1/4 - I 1/2 inches long (31-38 mm) and each segment has distinct V-shaped figures on its back. They will curl up into a tight coil when disturbed. The primary damage to tobacco by the granulate cutworm is cutting off newly set plants at or near ground level. Later in the season they may climb up the stalks and cut entire leaves off the plants.

Granulate cutworm

Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae)

Aphids are small soft bodied insects about 1/8 inch long (3 mm) that vary in color from light green to yellow or almost black. Two "tail pipes" or cornicles project from the rear end. They damage tobacco by sucking plant juices from the leaves of the tobacco and cause them to curl. As they feed they excrete honeydew from their intestine that supports a fungus growth that gives the plants a black sooty appearance. Heavy infestations may result in uneven curing of the tobacco after harvest.

Green peach aphid

Tobacco Wireworm (Conoderus vespertinus)
Southern Potato Wireworm ( C. falli)

Both the tobacco wireworm and the southern potato wireworm occur throughout the south and either may be the predominant species in any field. When full grown the larvae are 1/2 to 2/3 inch long (13-20 mm) and yellow-brown in color, are hard, shiny and appear as a short piece of wire—hence their name. Wireworms feed on the roots or underground stems of tobacco plants. This underground feeding often destroys a stand of' tobacco. The wireworms that feed on tobacco are usually in the soil at transplanting time.

Wireworm

Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni)

Cabbage loopers are greenish in color about I 1/2 inches long (38 mm) with the body tapering to the head. There is a thin line along the side of the body, and two other near the middle line of the back. The larvae have two pairs of abdominal prolegs and crawls with a looping motion. These larvae damage tobacco by eating large areas of the leaves, usually from the lower part of' the stalk.

Cabbage looper

Potato Tuberworm (or tobacco splitworm) (Phtorimaea operculella)

The tobacco splitworm is a pinkish-white caterpillar about 1/3 inch long (8 mm). This caterpillar mines between the upper and lower surfaces, especially of older leaves, causing unsightly gray to brown blotches. During the curing process these areas deteriorate and weight is lost due to the tunneling in the leaves.

Tobacco splitworm

Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula)
Brown Stink Bug ( Euschitus servus)

The stink bugs are shield shaped, green or brown, and about 5/8 inch long (15 mm). The triangle between the wings (scutellum) is about 1/2 the length of the wing. Both nymphs (no wings) and adults of these species feed on tobacco by inserting their beak into the midrib of the leaves sucking juices out at this point. Apparently a toxic substance is inserted at this point that may cause the leaf to droop or deteriorate from the feeding point to the tip. Tobacco is not a preferred host for stinkbugs and damage usually occurs when they migrate to tobacco from other plants such as small grains that are reaching maturity.

Southern green stinkbug and damage

Mole Cricket (or changa) (Scapteriscus vicinus)

Mole crickets are brownish and their bodies are covered with velvety hairs, and about I 1/2 inches long (38 mm). The front legs are flattened and spadelike for digging through the soil at a rapid pace. Mole crickets eat plant roots, however, much of their damage is caused by burrowing in the soil uprooting small seedlings.

Mole cricket

Whitefringed Beetle (larvae) (Graphognathus spp.)

Whitefringed beetle larvae are yellowish-white, legless and are tip to 1/2 inch in length (13mm) when fully grown.  The entire body is whitish with the exception of the mouthparts which show as two dark brown areas. These larvae overwinter in the soil and when the tobacco is transplanted they immediately begin feeding on the plants.  This feeding may result in complete destruction of the plants or a stunting if the plants are not killed.

Whitefringed beetle larvae