Biology of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on different maize hybrids under laboratory conditions

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a destructive polyphagous pest causingserious loss to many economically important crops in Iran. The effect of different maize hybrids (SC700,SC704, SC500, DC370 and SC260) incorporated into artificial diets on biology of H. armigera wasstudied at 25±1ºC, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hours. Incubation period of H. armigerawas not significantly different on various maize hybrids. Longest larval period and development timewere on SC700 (24.90 and 41.21 days, respectively) and shortest ones were on SC500 (19.43 and 37.62days, respectively). The results showed that oviposition period was the longest on SC500 (7.11 days) andshortest on SC700 (3.10 days) compared with other hybrids. The highest daily fecundity of H. armigerawas on SC500 (162.10 eggs) and lowest one was on SC704 (100.90 eggs). Larval growth index of H.armigera was the highest on SC500 (2.80) and lowest on DC370 (1.54). The highest fitness index was onSC704 and SC500 (0.80) and lowest was on SC700 (0.69). According to the results, it could be concludedthat hybrid SC700 was unsuitable host for growth and development of H. armigera.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cotton bollworm ، Helicoverpa armigera ، biology ، maize hybrid