Abstract
We investigated the host selection behavior and reproductive performance of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in glasshouse bioassays. Irrespective of the growth stages of the host species tested, females showed strong oviposition preference for maize and okra, followed by tomato. There was a distinct non-preference for eggplant and pepper. The preferred ovipositional site on tomato, maize, okra and pepper was on leaves, and on eggplant, flowers and fruits were more preferred. The within-plant distribution of larvae based on the number of larvae feeding per plant part was highest on flowers and fruits of tomato and on the silk, cob and tassel of maize. Leaves were the preferred feeding sites for neonates on okra. Bionomics studies indicated a significant variation in the ability of different host plants to support the life history stages of the insect. Larvae reared on maize and okra had low survival rates, and produced smaller pupae that were more likely to die, and emerged adults were less fecund compared to those reared on tomato, eggplant, pepper and artificial diet. These results suggest that for H. armigera, growth and survival of offspring appear unrelated to adult host plant choice.
