Toxicological Studies On Bollworms

cotton is the most important field crop in Egypt. The cotton area varied in recent years between 1. 25 and 1. 5 million feddan . It is still the backbone of national economy in spite of industrialization and crop diversification attempts. Cotton is highly susceptible toarthropod infestations which attack all plant parts during the growing season. The primary arthropod pests attacking the cotton crop in Egypt are classified as follows: - Early season pests: cutworms (Agrotis ipsilon), cotton thrips(Thrips tabaci), cotton aphids(Aphid gossypii) and spider mites (Tetranychus spp).-Mid-season pests : cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis), lesser cotton leafworm (Spodoptera exigua) and erican bollworm (Heliothis armigera). Late season pests: pink bollworm(Pectinophora gossypiella) and spiny bollworm (Earias insulana). The most important pests are the cotton leafworm and the pink bollworm . The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) is actually the main cotton insect pest in Egypt because of its direct effect on yield. The pink bollworm moths emerge from overwintering larvae from late March through early August, whereas moths from prepupae in boIls may emerge from late May through early September. Eggs are laid on vegetative parts of the cotton plant early in the season. The larval infestations occur in squares (Flower buds). Larvae developing in squares mature about the time of cotton flowering. This work aimed to study the Effect of synthetic pyrthroids on bollworm Mating disruption trials to control pink bollworm, p. gossypiella Integrated use of pheromone and conventional insecticides against pink bollworm, p. gossypiella. Monitoring bollworms with the pheromone baited traps.