A Laboratory Rearing Method and Dosage-Mortality Data on the Bollworm, Heliothis zea

Abstract

A method for rearing the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), on a larval diet was developed. After larvae fed fed about 2 days on cotton terminals they were transferred to individual vials which contained larval diet. Antimicrobial agents were added to the diet to eliminate the necessity for aseptic procedures. This method proved satisfactory for rearing large numbers of bollworm larvae for laboratory testing. Dosage-mortality curves were obtained for eight insecticides and insecticide combinations. The data obtained in this study indicate no measurable insecticide resistance in bollworms collected at College Station, Texas.