ABSTRACT
Heliothis /Helicoverpa species are highly polyphagous, and attack a wide range of food, fibre, oilseed, fodder and horticultural crops. Extensive damage to high-value crops such as cotton, soybean, tobacco, pulses and cereals account for most of economic loss due to Helicoverpa (Fitt 1989). Its preference for high protein reproductive and growing plant parts contributes to serious losses in crop yield. Helicoverpa armigera (Hiibner) has been recorded to feed on 181 plant species in India (Manjunath et al. 1989). The principal agricultural crop hosts in India are cotton, pulses, safflower, sunflower, sorghum and vegetables (Bilapate 1981a).
