← Pests

Tobacco budworm

Chloridea virescens

15 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
Host Plants
GDD Threshold
Peak Activity
Damage Severity
Monitoring
Regional Notes

Tobacco budworm larvae bore into unopened rose buds and flower petals, creating oblong to round holes that expand as flowers open. You will see dark caterpillar droppings (frass) inside flowers or on petals. Mature larvae reach one inch long and are tan to green. A single larva can destroy multiple flowers per day, causing rose bushes to cease blooming when populations are high.

Scout plants at dusk when larvae are active, looking for frass and entry holes. Hand-pick and destroy infested buds and larvae. Remove nearby weeds that serve as alternative hosts. Spinosad or Bt applied to buds and flowers provides suppression. Repeat applications every seven to ten days as needed.

Quick Reference

Order
Lepidoptera
Type
chewing-insect
Host Plants
15

Cultural Controls

  • Monitor plants closely for damage.
  • Handpick and destroy larvae and infested buds on roses, petunias, and geraniums.
  • Scout for larvae at dusk, when they are most active.
  • Check for actively-feeding larvae, small holes in buds and flowers, and caterpillar droppings (frass or feces) associated with damaged buds.
  • Consider planting less-susceptible plants.
  • For instance, ivy geranium is reported to be damaged less frequently than standard horticultural geraniums.

Host Plants (15)