EFFECTS OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE ON DEVELOPMENT OF HELIOTHIS-VIRESCENS (F)ON COTTON FRUITING STRUCTURES IN THE LABORATORY

A laboratory study was undertaken to determine the effect of high temp eratures on the developmental rate of tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothi s virescens (F.), feeding on various fruiting structures of cotton, Go ssypium hirsutum L. Temperatures above 32 degrees C caused an absolute reduction in developmental rates of H. virescens larvae irrespective of whether large squares or small bells were eaten. Such temperatures are frequently experienced by H. virescens larvae in cotton production areas of the United States. This may have practical implications for modeling the phenology of H. virescens in the field.