Damage of the Cotton Bollworm, Helicoverpa Armigera, on Cotton Crop

Helicoverpa armigera, newly introduced pest in Brazil, presents wide distribution, being recorded in several countries, but until March 2013 had not been officially registered in Brazil and was considered a quarantine pest in the country. H. armigera is a highly polyphagous species with high mobility and high survivability even in adverse conditions, and can complete several generations per year. These biological characteristics give the pest high damage production capacity and bring concern to Brazilian cotton farmers, due to the difficulty of its control and the lack of information regarding this pest in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the damage caused by the cotton bollworm, H. armigera, on cotton crop in Brazil, helping to establish its level of control.