Abstract
The developmental rates and reproductive potentials of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), were evaluated under laboratory conditions of 26 ± 1°C and 75±5 % RH with a photoperiod of L: D 16:8h on four different host plants: Strawberry, Fragaria ananassa; Pea, Pisum sativum; Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum; and Iceberg lettuce, Lactuca sativa var. Capitata. Cotton bollworm larvae successfully survived on all four host plants with low mortality rates especially on Pea. The developmental time of immature stages ranged from 31.13 days on Pea to 36.67 on Iceberg lettuce. The mean total numbers of eggs deposited per female were 711.67 eggs in 8.6 days (82.75 eggs/day), 658.33 eggs in 9.0 days (73.15 eggs/day), 789.67 eggs in 10.0 days (78.97 eggs/day), and 657.67 eggs in 10.3 days (63.85 eggs/day) for Strawberry, Pea, Tomato, and Iceberg lettuce host plants respectively, with no significant differences in the Oviposition or hatching rates. We conclude the suitability of the four tested host plants for laboratory mass rearing of Helicoverpa armigera with the most efficacy to the pea host that has the highest growth indexes.