Cotton Bollworm

Symptom

Larvae feed on leaves, with a particular preference for flowers and flower buds. When they consume tender new leaves, uniform holes or cut marks can often be observed. Damage occurs continuously from the early vegetative growth stage through to fruit development. Infestation can occur across all three planting seasons—early monsoon, mid-monsoon, and late monsoon—and can result in yield losses of up to 50%. By feeding on flower buds, cotton bollworms can bore into and damage the developing pods starting from the flowering stage. Since they can severely impact yields, timely preventive measures are essential.