Abstract Helicoverpa gelotopoeon is an endemic pest of South America that affects soybean and other important crops. Life tables are a fundamental tool used to study insect populations, resulting in crucial information for integrated pest management programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biotic potential and the construction of a life table of this species under laboratory conditions. The biological parameters that showed significant differences between male and female were pupal duration, longevity and life span, which were all longer in duration for males. The net reproductive rate (R0) was 95.49, the mean generation time (T) 37.53, and the instantaneous rate of population increase “r” 0.12. The population doubling time (DT) was 5.70 days, and the daily finite rate of increase (λ) 1.13. The maximum rate of population growth occurred in the day 33. Fecundity had two peaks: at days 35 and 37. Gross and net fecundity rate, and the average number of eggs laid per female per day were 565.87, 496.07, and 18.76 respectively. The biotic potential was 2.026 x 1018 individuals/female/year. The survivorship curve showed that mortality was high during incubation period and first larval instars, then it declined until the death of last adult. These results provide important information to develop management strategies of H. gelotopoeon in South America.

Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest that causes damage in the vegetative and reproductive plant growth stages. Although its importance as a soybean pest in the Northwest of Argentina, there are no studies about biological and reproductive aspects, which are important to develop an integrated pest management for this pest. The objective of this study was to examine biological and reproductive parameters of an H. gelotopoeon population collected in soybean (Glycine max L.; Fabales: Fabaceae) crop in Tucumán province. Larvae collected were placed in breeding chambers under controlled conditions (25 ± 2°C, 70-75% RH, 14L:10D photoperiod).The parameters analyzed were: incubation period, duration of larval instars and pupal stage, pupal mass, adult longevity, sex ratio, number of spermatophores, preoviposition, oviposition and postoviposition periods, fecundity and fertility. Results of our study showed that H. gelotopoeon has an incubation period of three days, five larval instars, a larval stage of 14 days, a pupal and adult duration of 11 and 17 days respectively. This species completes a single generation in 45 days and has a fecundity of 330 eggs per female with a fertility of 78%. These results were compared with those obtained for other Helicoverpa species raised under similar conditions. This is the first report of biological and reproductive studies of H. gelotopoeon under controlled conditions.

Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) es una especie polífaga que ocasiona daños en varios cultivos tanto en la etapa vegetativa como reproductiva. A pesar de ser una plaga de importancia en el noroeste argentino, no existen estudios sobre sus aspectos biológicos y reproductivos, datos fundamentales para la implementación de un programa de manejo integrado de plagas. Por ello, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue examinar los parámetros biológicos y reproductivos de una población de H. gelotopoeon recolectada en el cultivo de soja (Glycine max L.; Fabales: Fabaceae) en Tucumán. Las larvas recolectadas fueron acondicionadas y criadas en condiciones controladas (25 ± 2ºC, 70-75% HR, 14L:10O de fotoperíodo artificial). Se evaluaron los siguientes parámetros: duración de los estados de huevo, larva y pupa; peso de las pupas, longevidad de los adultos, proporción de sexos, número de espermatóforos, duración de los períodos de pre, ovi y postoviposición, fecundidad y fertilidad. En general, se encontró un período de incubación de tres días, cinco estadios larvales, un ciclo larval de 14 días, y una duración de pupa y adulto de 11 y 17 días respectivamente, completándose el ciclo de vida en 45 días. La fecundidad fue de 330 huevos por hembra con una fertilidad del 78%. Los resultados fueron comparados con aquellos obtenidos para otras especies de Helicoverpa criadas en condiciones similares. Estos estudios constituyen el primer aporte de aspectos biológicos y reproductivos de H. gelotopoeon en ambiente controlado.