View source for Helicoverpa zea

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[[File:IPMimage1472066.jpg|250px|thumb|''Helicoverpa zea'' larva on maize ear (click on image to enlarge it)<br/>Author(s): Sturgis McKeever, Georgia Southern University<br/>Source: [http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1472066 IPM Images]]]
<font color="#800000">'''''Helicoverpa zea'''''</font> (Boddie, 1850) - (American cotton bollworm)

This moth is regarded as an economically important pest in the Americas, infesting crops like maize, cotton, soybean, vegetables and many other crops. The host range also includes some weeds. However, in North America, the impact on grain yield and quality of maize appears to be small ([[Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 1249-1255|Bibb et al., 2018]]).

The insect does not overwinter in areas above ~40° latitude in North American, but regularly invades these areas by migration. The caterpillars feed mainly on buds and developing fruits, but may also bore into the whorls or stems. The development from egg, through 5-6 larval stages to mature adult lasts 3-8 weeks, depending on the temperature. Correspondingly, the number of generations per year ranges from 1 to 5 or more.
{{VN
|de=Amerikanischer Baumwollkapselwurm
|en=American cotton bollworm<br/>corn earworm<br/>tomato fruitworm
|es=gusano de las cápsulas del algodón
|fr=ver de la capsule du cotonnier<br/>ver de l'épi du maïs
|pt=lagarta-das-espigas<br/>broca-grande-do-fruto<br/>lagarta-da-espiga-do-milho
}}
The caterpillars have a variable color from light green to dark brown. Usually there is a dark band along each side, followed by a lighter, more ventrally located band. The adult has a wingspan of about 4 cm. The forewings are brownish, often with a central dark spot and a broad darker band across the apical half of the wing.

''Helicoverpa zea'' is very similar in morphology and biology to the old world species ''[[Helicoverpa armigera]]''. Both species can interbreed.

'''Synonyms:'''<br/>
''Heliothis stombleri''<br/>
''Heliothis zea''

For a review see [[Journal of Integrated Pest Management (2019) 10 (1 - 19)|Reay-Jones (2019)]].


<gallery widths=200px caption="Other images of Helicoverpa zea (IPM Images and PaDIL - click to enlarge)">
File:IPMimage1236191.jpg|larva
File:IPMimage1235226.jpg|larval sizes by age (in days)
File:IPMimage4387053.jpg|larva on cotton
File:IPMimage1124048.jpg|head of larva
File:IPMimage1124006.jpg|mandible of larva
File:IPMimage1243019.jpg|pupa
File:IPMimage1472068.jpg|adult
File:Helicoverpa_zea_PaDIL142238a.jpg|mounted adult
File:IPMimage0746037.jpg|genitalia of male (right side: aedeagus with 3 groups of cornuti, 17 in all)
File:IPMimage4387024.jpg|eggs on cotton
File:Helicoverpa_zea_PaDIL142238b.jpg|head
File:Helicoverpa_zea_PaDIL142238c.jpg|head
File:Helicoverpa_zea_PaDIL142238d.jpg|head
</gallery>

[[Category:Helicoverpa (genus)]]