Tobacco Budworm

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and meadows across North and South America.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous herbivore; feeds on a wide range of host plants including tobacco, cotton, tomatoes, and various flowers like petunias and geraniums.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are primarily nocturnal feeders and often burrow into flower buds or fruit to feed from the inside. They undergo five to seven instars before pupating in the soil.

Risks & Benefits

Considered a major agricultural pest capable of causing significant crop damage. In the ecosystem, they serve as a food source for birds, spiders, and parasitic wasps.

Identified on: 6/27/2026