Heliothis

Helicoverpa armigera is a lepidopteran that has become one of the most destructive pests of numerous crops, including spinach and the like. Adult females lay their eggs, usually in isolation, on the leaves or flowers of host plants. The eggs hatch in a few days, giving rise to larvae that go through five or six larval stages before becoming pupae. During their development, the larvae vary in color and size, adapting to be more aggressive as they grow. These larvae are highly voracious and can devour large portions of leaves, as well as pierce and damage shoots. The pupa develops in the soil, in a silk cocoon mixed with soil particles. From this pupa an adult emerges that repeats the cycle, achieving multiple generations in a single year, which increases the damage capacity of this pest.