Fruit predation submodel:Heliothislarvae feeding upon cotton fruiting structures

Abstract
Field and laboratory data on the numbers and age distribution of 2 varieties of cotton fruits, the association of various-age bollworm larvae [H. zea (Boddie)] and various age fruit, as well as the attack rates of the larvae on the fruits were used to develop a submodel describing predation of bollworm larvae on cotton fruits. The submodel will be used in the coupling of bollworm- and cotton-plant population models. This model is an important step in the development of dynamic economic threshold levels for bollworm in cotton.