Influence of baseline variation on the biological performance of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) was studied to establish baseline data for development of location specific pest management strategies. Populations of H. armigera were collected from cotton fields of three major cotton growing states in South India, which included Andhra Pradesh (Guntur and Warangal), Karnataka (Raichur and Dharwad) and Tamil Nadu (Attur and Coimbatore). The results of the experiment showed that the total egg, larval, pupal developmental time, adult longevity and malformed adult emergence (%) were significantly lower in Guntur (3.13 ± 0.13, 11.88 ± 0.32, 8.50 ± 0.29, 10.50 ± 0.51days and 8.13 ± 0.63%) and higher in Coimbatore (3.13 ± 0.13, 15.00 ± 0.20, 9.25 ± 0.25 8.88 ± 0.25 days and 17.65 ± 1.20%) population respectively. On the contrary higher developmental index (2.49), larval (338.09 ± 21.62 mg), pupal weights (female, 293.60 ± 13.0 mg), healthy adult emergence (91.87 ± 1.10 %), fecundity (873 ± 85.56/ pair), fertility (69.93 ± 2.63 %) and oviposition period (7.9 ± 0.13 days) were observed in Guntur population and lower (2.05, 312.91 ± 9.69 mg, 266.77 ± 9.47 mg, 82.35 ± 0.47 %, 532 ± 50/ pair, 50.58± 1.81 (%), and 5.4 ± 0.13 days respectively) in Coimbatore. This baseline results also show that there is a possibility for development of resistance to insecticides. Development of location specific pest management strategies may safeguard the emerging pest problems.