ABSTRACT
Heliothis/Helicoverpa-The global problem The cotton bollworm/com earworm/ legume pod borer (Heliothis/Helicoverpa) are the most important constraints to increase the production and productivity of crops worldwide (Hardwick 1970; Fitt 1989). These pests damage a wide range of economically important crops including cotton, chickpea, pigeonpea, maize, peas, cowpea, sunflower, sorghum, groundnut, field beans, tobacco, a range of vegetables, fruit crops and tree species. Of these, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is widely distributed across Asia, Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean Europe; while H. punctigera (Wallengren) is native to Australia. Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and H virescens (Fabricius) are important pests in the American continent. Heliothis/Helicoverpa species cause an estimated loss of US$5 billion annually, despite the fact that pesticides costing over US$1 billion are used to control them on different crops. This figure does not take into account the cost of harmful effects of insecticides on the non-target organisms and the environment. In fact, more than 50% of the pesticides produced worldwide are used to control Heliothine pests, and yet, they still cause
widespread damage to crops, ranging between 25% damage to complete failure of crops (Sharma 2001).
