Tobacco budworm
scouted June 24, 2026
- Scientific Name
- Chloridea virescens
- Background
- A tobacco field, variety NC1226, was being scouted, and it was observed that 10% of the field was affected by browning, yellowing, and wilting, and 35% of the field had signs of insect chewing. A sample was submitted to the PDIC for diagnosis.
- Conclusion
- The issue was identified as tobacco budworm. Tobacco budworm larvae feed on tobacco foliage, resulting in holes in the foliage, destruction of flowers, and seed capsules during seed production. It does not typically result in measurable yield loss. Before flowering, the threshold for treatment is 10%, and it's based on plants infested with live larvae. Damaged plants without larvae do not count as infested. If the population is at or near the threshold but the plants will be topped within two weeks, treatment is not recommended because limited damage will occur before topping, and after topping, budworms are no longer a pest.