Scouting Tobacco in North Carolina Scouting Tobacco in North Carolina Scouting for Insect Pests Cutworms, Vegetable Weevils, Slugs Several pests may kill or severely injure tobacco in the first weeks after transplanting. Among the most common are several species of cutworms. They feed primarily at night. During the day, cutworms are usually found in the top inch or two of soil near injured plants. Black cutworm and damaged plant.
Most cutworms are gray to black and curl up when disturbed.
Adult and immature vegetable weevils can damage the leaves of newly set plants. Immature weevils are pale green, legless grubs with dark heads. Adult vegetable weevil. Vegetable weevil damage. Slugs, which also damage leaves, are most common in wet weather.