| 1402134 |
spotted lady beetle |
Coleomegilla maculata |
Both adult and larval lady beetles are important predators of aphids. Adults can consume 50 aphids per day, while larvae kill 10 to 25 per day. The adult spotted lady beetle is bright red to pink with black spots on the wing covers and pronotum. |
| 1440132 |
Tachinid flies |
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Tachinid flies including Zygostrumia and Winthemia species, belong to a large family of parasitic flies. These flies are hairy and resemble house flies, but some species are slightly larger. The tip of the abdomen may be red. Most lay large eggs on the body of budworms and hornworms. Caterpillars may be found with several tachinid larvae on them. Upon hatching, the tachinid larva usually burrows into the host and feeds internally. The parasitized insect usually dies while in the soil during the pupal stage, before it can transform into an adult and initiate a new generation. |
| 1402139 |
red-tailed wasp |
Cardiochiles nigriceps |
These small wasps are parasites of budworms. They are about 3/8 inch long. Although the wings and front portion of these wasps are black and only the abdomen and hind legs are red, they appear red in color. Red-tail wasps are often seen hovering over tobacco buds or flowers in search of small budworm larvae. Once a female finds a larva, she inserts an egg into its body. The parasitized budworm will look normal and continue to develop to the 4th or 5th stage before it prematurely pupates and dies. |
| 1402140 |
red-tailed wasp |
Cardiochiles nigriceps |
These small wasps are parasites of budworms. They are about 3/8 inch long. Although the wings and front portion of these wasps are black and only the abdomen and hind legs are red, they appear red in color. Red-tail wasps are often seen hovering over tobacco buds or flowers in search of small budworm larvae. Once a female finds a larva, she inserts an egg into its body. The parasitized budworm will look normal and continue to develop to the 4th or 5th stage before it prematurely pupates and dies. |
| 1440135 |
Braconid wasp |
Cotesia congregata |
The braconid wasp an important parasite of the tobacco hornworm. The larval stage is a small, white legless grub that develops inside the hornworm. Parasitized hornworms are easily recognized after the wasp larvae spin their white football- shaped cocoons. When the parasite becomes an adult, it leaves through an opening in the end of the cocoon and searches for other hornworms. By late summer 90% or more of the hornworm found on tobacco may be parasitized. Hornworms with cocoons may live for several days but do not feed. Insecticides should not be applied if parasitized hornworms are abundant in the field. |
| 1402143 |
Tachinid flies |
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Tachinid flies (several species including Winthemia spp. and Archytas marmoratus (Townsend): These flies are hairy and resemble house flies, but some species are slightly larger. The tip of the abdomen may be red. Most lay large eggs on the body of budworms and hornworms. Winthemia manducae Sabrosky & DeLoach is often seen near last stage hornworm larvae. Eggs of this species hatch, and the maggots bore into the hornworm. The hornworm is killed while in the soil during the pupal stage, before it can transform into an adult and initiate a new generation. |
