Appearance
The cotton bollworm is very variable in both size and colour. The body length varies between 12 and 20 millimetres with a wingspan of 30–40 millimetres. The fore wings are yellowish to orange in females and greenish-gray in males, with a slightly darker transversal band in the distal third. The external transversal and submarginal lines and the reniform spot are diffused. The hind wings are a pale yellow with a narrow brown band at the external edge and a dark round spot in the middle.
Distribution
This species comprises two sub-species: "Helicoverpa armigera armigera" is native and widespread in central and southern Europe, temperate Asia and Africa; "Helicoverpa armigera conferta" is native to Australia, and Oceania. The former sub-species has also recently been confirmed to have successfully invaded Brazil and has since spread across much of South America and reached the Caribbean. It is a migrant species, able to reach Scandinavia and other northern territories.Overall "H. amerigera" is the best characterised out of "Helicoverpa" due to its longstanding and severe agricultural impact.References:
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