Abstract
A late-instar larva of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was found feeding on bread in a residential home in Osaka. The larva may have inadvertently invaded the house, or earlier the grocery store or bakery, to ultimately feed on the bread. The larva was subsequently reared on the bread in the laboratory, but it died before pupation. This occurrence represents a rare case of the infestation of a processed cereal food by a macrolepidopteran caterpillar and the second report of bread-feeding in the cotton bollworm. Helicoverpa armigera caterpillars typically feed on leaves and flowering plant parts, including seeds, and prey on caterpillars. The wide host range and the tendency to feed on proteinous materials of H. armigera may explain this bizarre feeding behavior.
