The 2026 tobacco season has brought an unusual pattern of hornworm and tobacco budworm activity in North Carolina. Typically, tobacco budworm infestations are observed before the first major hornworm flight. This year, however, hornworms appeared early and initially reached higher numbers than budworms in some areas.

At our tobacco research fields in Kinston, hornworms were detected as early as the last week of May. Populations were already approaching the recommended treatment threshold of 10% sampled plants showing active catterpillars, and within a couple of weeks, hornworm numbers surpassed the threshold. This was considerably earlier than expected because hornworm adults generally begin emerging in June, with most feeding damage occurring during July and later in the season.

Following this early increase in hornworms, tobacco budworm populations also began to rise. This sequence was unusual because budworms are generally encountered before the first substantial hornworm infestations. Budworms typically infest tobacco between four and eight weeks after transplanting (mid-April for our plots) and feed primarily within the bud and on other young plant tissue before topping.

A second generation of hornworms is commonly observed during the summer, and it is now appearing in some North Carolina tobacco fields. Growers who still have several weeks remaining before harvest, particularly those in areas where hornworm incidence is historically high (more than 10% infestation), should consider scouting-based management decisions. Hornworms can consume large quantities of foliage quickly, especially as larvae reach their later developmental stages.

At this point in the season, treatment for tobacco budworms is generally unnecessary. Budworms feed mainly within the bud before flowering and are no longer considered an economic pest after topping. Old feeding holes on lower leaves should not be interpreted as evidence of an active infestation. Even before topping, treatment is not recommended when plants will be topped within approximately one week, because little additional damage is expected.

Hornworm management decisions should be based on the number of larvae present rather than feeding damage or frass alone. Treatment is justified when one or more hornworms larger than 1 inch and without parasitoid cocoons are found per 10 plants examined, equivalent to a 10% infestation. Because several hornworms can occur on one plant, growers should record the number of larvae rather than only the number of infested plants.

Hornworms carrying white parasitoid cocoons should be left in the field. These parasitized larvae consume substantially less foliage than healthy hornworms and help produce additional beneficial wasps that can suppress later infestations. Five hornworms carrying parasitoid cocoons are counted as the equivalent of one healthy hornworm when determining whether the treatment threshold has been reached.

For fields in which hornworms exceed the 10% threshold and several weeks remain before harvest, growers should consult current recommendations before selecting an insecticide. Growers should also communicate with their tobacco buyers about any applicable residue restrictions.

Additional information on identification, scouting, thresholds, biological control, and insecticide options is available through the following NC State Extension publications: