BOLLWORM - PEANUT FOLIAGE CONSUMPTION AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE

Peanut foliage consumption by bollworm larvae, Heliothis zea (Boddie), increased from 176.1 to 195.1 cm2 and larval developmental time decreased from 35.3 to 30.2 days at 26° and 30°C, respectively. Pupal weights also increased with temperature. Larval instars ranged from 5 to 9 with no apparent change due to temperature. The penultimate and ultimate larval instars collectively consumed 73-97% of the total foliage consumed. The ultimate instar had the highest consumption rates ranging from 9.20-30.57 cm2/day at 26°C to 13.52-20.22 cnvVday at 30°C. Larval mortality was 73.4% at 26°C to 66.3% at 30°C. Mortality rates for specific larval age intervals increased for the latter instars. © 1979 Entomological Society of America.