Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 5: 123 - 126. Published May 2008.
Effect of different host plants on the development and reproduction of Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) in Golestan province, Northern Iran
Mojeni T.D.
*Department of Research Plant Protection, Cotton Research Institute of Iran – Gorgan P.O. Box 49175-483, Iran.
Corresponding author e-mail: t_mojeni@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: American bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) is one of the important and key pests in cotton fields of Golestan province in the northern part of Iran. The effect of different food plants on the development and reproduction of the pest was investigated in 2001-2002.
Methodology and results: The experiments were done using chickpea, tomato, cotton and velvet leaf weed. One hundred larvae were collected and reared on each host under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 °C; 65 ± 5 % RH; 12/12 h light/darkness cycles). The moths were fed on distilled 10 % honey solution and eggs from individual females were counted each morning. The number of eggs laid per female increased gradually between day 3 - 7 and declined steadily thereafter until death. The mean number of eggs deposited on different crops varied with 789.58 eggs on cotton in 18 days (mean of 43.92 day-1), for tomato 338.17 eggs in 17.5 days (mean of 19.34 day) and garbanzo bean 829.83 eggs in 18. days (mean of 44.9 day-1). The duration of adult’s life was 16-19 days.
Conclusion and application of findings: These findings demonstrate that host plant has an effect on reproduction of H. armigera. This knowledge can be utilized to manipulate reproduction of the pest so as to suppress its populations.
Keywords: Helicoverpa armigera, bollworm, host plants, oviposition, Iran
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