Tobacco budworm (TBW), Heliothis virescens F. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and tobacco hornworm (THW), Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), are consistent pests of tobacco in South Carolina. Trials were conducted at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC, to evaluate transplant water and foliar applications of insecticide for TBW and THW control. Tests included untreated and treated tobacco with transplant water applications of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole, and foliar applications of chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, spinosad, chlorantraniliprole + lambda-cyhalothrin, emamectin benzoate, and a Bt insecticide. After transplant, 10 plants per plot were randomly selected and examined on every leaf weekly for live TBW or THW larvae; insecticides were applied at the 10% live larvae threshold. In 2012, transplant water applications of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole did not prevent infestations from reaching the threshold at 6 weeks after transplant, which was the same date as the untreated control; however, TBW or THW larval densities were generally greater in untreated tobacco. In 2013, infestations of TBW or THW larvae did not reach threshold for 10 weeks after transplant in plots with transplant water applications of chlorantraniliprole (5 oz/ac), compared to three weeks in the untreated control. Seasonal control of TBW or THW larvae was achieved with the higher rate of chlorantraniliprole (7 oz/ac) in transplant water. Foliar applications of chlorantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole + lambda-cyhalothrin, and flubendiamide showed longer residual activity than spinosad, ememectin benzoate and a Bt insecticide. (Reprinted with permission)