Growth and development of the American bollworm Heliothis armigera Hubn. under laboratory mass rearing conditions.

A kidney bean meal diet was the most satisfactory laboratory diet for the larvae of the American bollworm Heliothis armigera Hubn. Optimum rates of survival (63.5%) occurred and the larval growth was better than that of larvae reared on castor oil plant leaves. The pupal weight and the fecundity of the resulting adults were also much better than those on the control host plant.