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American bollworm / fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera)

Helicoverpa armigera is among the most damaging polyphagous noctuids globally, with annual losses estimated above US$3 billion. In India it attacks cotton bolls, chilli and tomato fruits, chickpea and pigeonpea pods, and sorghum/maize earheads.

Identification and biology

  • Host Range: cotton, tomato, chickpea, pigeonpea, sorghum, maize, vegetables
  • ETL Monitoring: 5 moths per pheromone trap per night
  • Biocontrol: Trichogramma chilonis releases; HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha
  • Trap Crops: marigold, cowpea, sunflower intercrops divert oviposition

Management

ICAR-NBAIR and AICRIP recommend IPM combining Trichogramma releases, HaNPV, pheromone-trap monitoring (ETL 5 moths/trap/night), and rotation of diamides (chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide), spinosyns and indoxacarb to delay resistance.

See also: Spodoptera Tobacco Caterpillar.

References

  1. Helicoverpa armigera CABI Compendium. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1079/cabicompendium.26757
  2. Sustainable management of chickpea pod borer - review. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-017-0428-8