Oviposition and feeding preferences of the bollworm on cotton

Abstract

Oviposition and feeding preferences of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie) on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., cultivar 'Tamcot CAMD-E', were studied. A highly significant number of eggs on terminal and leaves indicated clearly that bollworm moths exibit a high degree of preference for egg placement on these parts. Feeding sites for bollworm larvae were quite variable among instars and plant parts, except for white flowers and red flowers which were the most preferred feeding sites for all larval instars. Terminals and leaves were the second most damaged plant parts by the first instars. Large boll preferences increased from fourth to sixth instars, with a peak of damage in the fifth instar. It was concluded that egg placement may vary among plant parts. Feeding preference sites varied from instar to instar within the various cotton plant parts. Consequently, caution should be taken in common scoring practices.