Green Wolf in Tobacco

Greenworm [Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn.)] adult is a butterfly with a wingspan of 35-40 mm. Fore wings are grayish green, greenish buff or olive green in males, and yellowish to reddish brown in females. There are two spots on the front wings, one kidney and the other in the shape of a circle. The hind wings are beige or yellowish, with a broad black band towards the wing tips. Antennae are bristly and less hairy. The head and thorax are covered with feathers in the color of the front wings. The hairs on the abdomen are lighter and shorter than those on the head and thorax.

Eggs are 0.5-0.7 mm in diameter, cream-colored and spherical, slightly pressed from above. It has longitudinal protrusions.

The newly hatched larvae are 1.5-2.0 mm in length, off-white in color and very hairy. The color of these hairs on the head and prothorax is black. Green, brown and yellow bands are located on the upper part of the larva. There is another yellow band on the sides. When the larva first hatches, it is transparent, pale grayish green in color. The head is dark blackish brown. As the periods progress, spots of different colors and shades form on the body in the form of a longitudinal band. The color of the larvae can also vary according to the environment in which they are fed. The last stage larva is in different shades of green, brown or orange and is 3-4 cm in length. The pupa is 20-23 mm long and 5 mm wide, turning green at first, then reddish brown.

The green wolf spends the winter as a pupa in diapause. It is active at night and mating and spawning occur at night. A female can lay 400-2200 eggs in her life span of 7-16 days. It spends the winter in the soil in the pupal stage. Butterflies begin to appear in the spring, presumably from the end of April or the beginning of May. Flights are usually in the evening. It lays its eggs one by one on the underside of the leaves or on the apical bud of the plant.

Eggs hatch in 5-10 days and larvae complete their development in 13-26 days and 6 periods. The mature larva prepares a nest 5-10 cm deep in the soil and becomes a pupa in it. The pupal period varies between 12-25 days. It gives 3-5 offspring per year in the Aegean Region.

The damage is caused by the larvae. The first stage larvae feed on the leaves and top buds of tobacco and form large and small cavities in these parts.

The larvae found in the following periods cause the most important damage in the seed capsules if the tobacco has set seeds. The larva, which penetrates the capsule, can destroy the seeds. A larva can continue its damage by moving from capsule to capsule. The damage of greenworm is especially important in tobacco grown for seeds. Because the larva feeds in capsules that have just set or are setting seeds. For this reason, it is not possible to obtain seeds from capsules when the population is dense.

The pest is found in tobacco cultivation areas in our country.

It is polyphagous. Tobacco, okra, eggplant, tomato, pepper, bean, chickpea, cotton, corn, sunflower, peanut, hemp, clover, clover and zucchini are among the hosts.

Tillage should be done in autumn and early spring and overwintering pupae should be destroyed.

Spraying is started when 20 larvae are seen in 100 controlled plants.

Back sprayer (mechanical, automatic, motorized) or back atomizer is used in spraying.

Spraying should be done in the cool of the morning or evening, in a windless weather, after the dew is lifted, and the spraying should be done in a way that wets the undersides of the leaves.

*Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Protection Technical Instructions Vol:2