Helicoverpa zea: Difference between revisions

''Helicoverpa zea'' has a wide host range, attacking vegetables that include [[maize|corn]], [[tomato]], [[artichoke]], [[asparagus]], [[cabbage]], [[cantaloupe]], [[collards]], [[cowpea]], [[cucumber]], [[eggplant]], [[lettuce]], [[lima bean]], [[melon]], [[okra]], [[pea]], pepper, [[potato]], [[pumpkin]], [[snap bean]], [[spinach]], [[squash (plant)|squash]], [[sweet potato]], and [[watermelon]].<ref name=":3" /> However, not all of these are good hosts. While corn and lettuce are shown to be great hosts, tomatoes are less beneficial, and broccoli and cantaloupe are poor hosts.<ref name=":3" /> Corn and [[sorghum]] are most favored by corn earworms.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal | vauthors = Harding JA | title = Heliothis spp.: seasonal occurrence, hosts and host importance in the lower Rio Grande Valley. | journal = Environmental Entomology | date = August 1976 | volume = 5 | issue = 4 | pages = 666–8 | doi = 10.1093/ee/5.4.666 }}</ref> Various signs reveal the presence of these moths.<ref name=":20" /> Young [[maize]] crops have holes in their leaves, following whorl-feeding on the apical leaf.<ref name=":20" /> Eggs can be found on silks on larger plants, and silks display [[grazing]] evidence.<ref name=":20" /> The soft, milky grains in the top few centimeters of [[corn cobs]] are eaten as the corn ears develop.<ref name=":20" /> One larva per cob can be observed.<ref name=":20" /> Bore holes are observed in cabbage and lettuce hearts, flower heads, cotton bolls, and tomato fruits. Sorghum heads are grazed, and [[legume]] pod seeds are eaten.<ref name=":20">{{cite conference | vauthors = Pitre HN | date = 1985 | title = Insect problems on sorghum in the USA. | conference = Proceedings of the International Sorghum Entomology Workshop | date = July 1984 | location = Texas A & M University, USA | veditors = Kumble V | pages = 73–81 | publisher = ICRISAT, Patancheru, India }}</ref>