Foraging Behavior of Helicoverpa armigera $H{\ddot{u}}bner$ (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) First Instar Larvae on Selected Cotton Varieties

The movement, survival, and weight gain of Helicoverpa armigera $H{\ddot{u}}bner$ (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) first instar larvae were studied on CB9, CB10 and SR05 cotton varieties under field conditions. The neonate H. armigera were released on the cotton varieties at the squaring stage of the plants and, after a period of 72 hours, the survival, weight gain, and final location of the larvae were observed. While the different cotton varieties had no effect on the survival and weight gain of the larvae, the release locations on the cotton varieties had a significant influence on the larval survival and weight gain. The larvae fed small squares of the cotton varieties were significantly heavier and showed a higher mortality than the larvae fed leaflets and mature leaves. For the cotton varieties in this study, the larvae released on leaflets showed a significantly higher rate of recovery compared to the larvae released on mature leaves and squares. This study also found that that the larvae on leaflets did not move up or downward unlike the larvae on mature leaves and squares. This information on the foraging behavior of larvae on cotton varieties will assist researchers to interpret field data and thereby help with the development of pest management decisions.