Helicoverpa zea

The larva of the moth Helicoverpa zea (formerly in the genus Heliothis) is a major agricultural pest. It can feed on many different plants (i.e. it is polyphagous) during the larval stage. Accordingly, the species has been given many different common names; when the larva consumes cotton, it is known as the cotton bollworm (see the image on the left), when it consumes corn, it is known as the corn earworm, and when it consumes tomatoes, it is known as the tomato fruitworm. It has also been known to consume many other crops. The adult moth is a pollinator and it is pictured on the right engaging in this process.

Additional recommended knowledge

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  The impact of this pest has been and continues to be significant, especially because of the wide range of crops attacked, and the natural abundance of the species in the wild.

Helicoverpa armigera, a close relative of H. zea, is a major cotton bollworm in Asia.

The insidious flower bug (Orius insidiosus), a pirate bug, feeds on the eggs of H. zea, thus acting as a biological control agent.