ARS | Publication request: New Geographic Records for Tobacco Budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae), in the Pacific Northwest

Submitted to: Pan-Pacific Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 23, 2008
Publication Date: February 20, 2009
Citation: Landolt, P.J. 2009. New Geographic Records for Tobacco Budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae), in the Pacific Northwest. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 84(3):246-248.

Technical Abstract: A number of moths in the cutworm family, Noctuidae, are pests of vegetable crops throughout the U.S., including potato. Researchers at the USDA-ARS laboratory in Wapato, Washington, monitor for the presence of numerous pest species of moths that may damage potato and other vegetable crops. They determined that the tobacco budworm has repeatedly been present in eastern Washington, as well as western Oregon. These distribution records are a large extension of their known range, which is typically more southern. This information will be useful to local gardeners and growers who may need to recognize and control this pest.