Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner): can wheat stubble protect cotton plants against attack?

Abstract  When investigating strategies for Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) control, it is important to understand oviposition behaviour. Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) was sown into standing wheat ( Triticum astivum L.) stubble in a closed arena to investigate the effect of stubble on H. armigera moth behaviour and oviposition. Infrared cameras were used to track moths and determine whether stubble acted as a physical barrier or provided camouflage to cotton plants, thereby reducing oviposition. Searching activity was observed to peak shortly before dawn (03:00 and 04:00 h) and remained high until just after dawn (4 h window). Moths spent more time resting on cotton plants than spiralling above them, and the least time flying across the arena. While female moths spent more time searching for cotton plants growing in wheat stubble, the difference in oviposition was not significant. As similar numbers of eggs were laid on cotton plants with stubble (3.5/plant SE ±0.87) and without stubble (2.5/plant SE ±0.91), wheat stubble does not appear to provide camouflage to cotton plants. There was no significant difference in the location of eggs deposited on cotton plants with and without stubble, although more eggs were laid on the tops of cotton leaves in wheat stubble. As the spatial and temporal distribution of eggs laid on the cotton plant is a crucial component of population stability, eggs laid on the upper side of leaves on cotton plants may be more prone to fatalities caused by environmental factors such as wind and rain. Therefore, although stubble did not influence the number of eggs laid, it did affect their distribution on the plant, which may result in increased mortality of eggs on cotton plants sown into standing wheat stubble.     

花铃期干旱和渍水对棉铃碳水化合物含量的影响及其与棉铃生物量累积的关系

在池栽条件下,以美棉33B为材料,研究花铃期干旱、渍水7 d和渍水14 d处理对棉铃碳水化合物含量的影响及其与生物量累积的关系.结果表明: 干旱处理对下部果枝棉铃铃壳碳水化合物含量的影响较小,降低了中部铃壳碳水化合物含量;干旱处理上部铃壳和渍水处理铃壳可溶性糖、淀粉含量增加,蔗糖含量先降后增,且随渍水持续期延长变幅增大,蔗糖外运受阻加重.与铃壳相比,花铃期干旱和渍水处理对棉籽碳水化合物含量的影响较小.干旱和渍水7 d处理中部果枝棉铃生物量快速增长起始期提前但历时短,下部和上部棉铃生物量累积最大增长速率降低;渍水14 d处理不同果枝部位棉铃生物量累积最大增长速率均降低.相关分析表明,棉铃生物量及其最大增长速率与铃壳可溶性糖和蔗糖含量关系密切.因此,花铃期干旱和渍水影响棉铃蔗糖外运,改变棉铃生物量累积特性,是棉铃生物量降低的原因.
     

（强）热带风暴条件下农田林网对防止棉花倒伏及减产的效应

研究结果表明 ,林带背风面 2 7H范围内 ,林网具有不同程度减轻棉株倒伏及产量损失的功能 ,有效防护范围为 0 .42～ 2 3H ,最大籽棉产量和衣分率效果区为 1 0～ 1 3H .与受灾区相比 ,保护区的籽棉产量增加 45.0 1 % ,皮棉产量增加 52 .69% .整个林网内的籽棉产量增加 2 9 94% ,皮棉产量增加 35 0 6% .     

Stylet penetration behaviors of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii on transgenic Bt cotton

Stylet penetration behaviors of cotton aphids Aphis gossypii Glover on a transgenic cotton line "GK-12" expressing Bt toxic protein of Cry1A (Bt cotton) and a non-Bt conventional cotton line "Simian-3" (CK cotton) were recorded with the direct current electrical penetration graph (DC-EPG) technique. Cotton aphids reared on Bt cotton (abbreviated as Bt-aphids) and its parental non-Bt control line (CK-aphids) for more than 20 generations each, were used for recordings on two cotton lines. Among 47 selected parameters reflecting the activities of aphid stylets within plant tissues, there were eight parameters of CK-aphids showing significant differences between the performances of CK-aphids on Bt cotton and CK cotton, while for Bt-aphids, all the parameters were statistically equal between the performances on the two cotton lines. All parameters with significant differences indicated that CK-aphids could penetrate into Bt cotton more easily, but the phloem saps of Bt cotton were not as good as those of regular cotton for CK-aphids. Based on the present results, we concluded that there were some factors in Bt cotton affecting penetration behaviors of CK-aphids, but it just took several generations for CK-aphids to completely adapt Bt cotton, and Bt-aphids could feed on two cotton lines without difficulty.     

Iberian Rock Lizards (Lacerta monticola cyreni) Assess Conspecific Information Using Composite Signals from Faecal Pellets

A field and laboratory study was performed to analyse the role of excrement deposited on the substrate in intraspecific communication of the Iberian rock-lizard (Lacerta monticola cyreni). In the field, lizards selected specific sites on rocks to deposit faecal pellets, probably in order to facilitate visual location of pellets by conspecifics. Differential tongue flick rates to chemicals presented on cotton swabs demonstrated that male lizards can detect and discriminate between self-produced scents from faecal pellets and those of other conspecific males. In a subsequent experiment, male lizards were tested in a chamber with two platforms containing a faecal pellet of other male on one side and a control artificial pellet on the opposite side. Males spent significantly less time on the side containing the faecal pellet, suggesting that the decision of where to stay may depend on the presence of faecal pellets. Smaller males moved less than larger males on the experimental side whereas on the control side body size did not influence the proportion of time moving. The ability to discriminate chemicals from faeces, and the effects of faecal pellets on lizard behaviour, suggests that faeces might act as composite signals (visual and chemical) in the intraspecific communication of this lizard.     

Effects of transgenic Bt cotton on overwintering characteristics and survival of Helicoverpa armigera

The effects of transgenic Bt cotton on the overwintering generation of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are unknown. We hypothesized that a Bt cotton diet may adversely affect fitness of this generation and examined fresh weight, lipids, glycogens, low-molecular-weight sugars and SCPs (supercooling points) of pupae, as well as survival of larvae, diapausing pupae and adult emergence in comparison with controls. Field and laboratory experiments showed that larvae fed on Bt cotton had a decreased pupation rate, and fewer entered diapause and emerged as adults compared with larvae fed non-Bt cotton. Furthermore, larvae fed Bt cotton had reduced pupal weight, glycogen content and trehalose levels both in diapausing and in non-diapausing pupae, and only diapausing pupae had an increased SCP compared to controls. The SCPs of diapausing pupae reared on Bt cotton were significantly higher than those reared on non-Bt cotton. The trehalose levels of diapausing pupae reared on Bt cotton were significantly lower than those of larvae reared on non-Bt cotton. Thus, these results suggest that a Bt cotton diet weakens the preparedness of cotton bollworm for overwintering and reduces survival of the overwintering generation, which will in turn reduce the density of the first generation in the following year. Effects of transgenic Bt cotton on the overwintering generation of cotton bollworm appear to have significantly contributed to the suppression of cotton bollworm observed throughout northern China in the past decade.     

Respiratory syncytial virus fusion inhibitors. Part 3: Water-soluble benzimidazol-2-one derivatives with antiviral activity in vivo

The introduction of acidic and basic functionality into the side chains of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion inhibitors was examined in an effort to identify compounds suitable for evaluation in vivo in the cotton rat model of RSV infection following administration as a small particle aerosol. The acidic compounds 2r, 2u, 2v, 2w, 2z, and 2aj demonstrated potent antiviral activity in cell culture and exhibited efficacy in the cotton rat comparable to ribavirin. In a BALB/c mouse model, the oxadiazolone 2aj reduced virus titers following subcutaneous dosing, whilst the ester 2az and amide 2aab exhibited efficacy following oral administration. These results established the potential of this class of RSV fusion inhibitors to interfere with infection in vivo following topical or systemic administration.     

Sensory properties of citric acid: psychophysical evidence for sensitization, self-desensitization, cross-desensitization and cross-stimulus-induced recovery following capsaicin

In a first experiment, human subjects used a bipolar scale to rate the irritant sensation elicited by 10 sequentially repeated applications of either 3 ppm capsaicin or 250 mM citric acid on one side of the dorsal surface of the tongue, at 1 min intervals (30 s inter-stimulus interval). Citric acid-evoked irritation significantly increased across trials, consistent with sensitization. With capsaicin there was a large degree of inter- and intra-individual variation in successive ratings with no overall sensitization. Following the sequential stimulation series and a 10 min rest period, self- and cross-desensitization effects were tested in a two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC) paradigm by placing either citric acid or capsaicin on both sides of the tongue and asking subjects to indicate which side of the tongue yielded a stronger irritant sensation. Subjects also gave separate intensity ratings for irritation on each side of the tongue. Capsaicin self-desensitization was confirmed, while cross-desensitization to citric acid was not observed. In addition, citric acid self-desensitization and cross-desensitization to capsaicin were observed. In a second experiment a stronger capsaicin solution (33 ppm) was applied to one side of the tongue using cotton swabs. After the burning sensation elicited by capsaicin had disappeared, citric acid was applied bilaterally and cross-desensitization was observed using the same 2-AFC and rating procedures. This was followed by repeated re-application of citric acid at 1 min intervals to the capsaicin-treated side. The irritant sensation elicited by citric acid increased significantly, indicating a 'cross-stimulus-induced recovery' from capsaicin desensitization. In a final experiment we investigated the effect of the sodium channel blocker amiloride on the perceived irritation elicited by citric acid or capsaicin. Following application of amiloride to one side of the tongue with cotton swabs, either citric acid or capsaicin was applied bilaterally and subjects asked to perform a 2-AFC and intensity ratings. Amiloride significantly, albeit weakly, reduced the irritation elicited by citric acid while it weakly but significantly enhanced capsaicin-evoked irritation. These findings are discussed in terms of involvement of vanilloid and acid-sensitive ion channels in acid-evoked irritation and pain.     

海岛棉与陆地棉叶绿素含量变化的差异研究

以5份陆地棉和4份海岛棉为材料,研究了整个发育进程中陆地棉和海岛棉叶绿素的变化规律之间的差异,结果显示：陆地棉与海岛棉的叶绿素a、叶绿素b和叶绿素a＋b各有不同动态变化规律,其叶绿素a/b在整个发育进程中的变化也有差异。海岛棉与陆地棉的叶绿素a变化趋势有较大差别,陆地棉的叶绿素a含量在6月18日（苗期）最高,峰值出现在8月6日,海岛棉峰值、最大值均在7月4日（现蕾期）;叶绿素b含量表现为陆地棉、海岛棉峰值均在8月6日（花铃期）,但海岛棉平均值高于陆地棉;陆地棉的叶绿素a＋b和叶绿素a曲线相似,海岛棉的叶绿素a＋b和叶绿素b曲线相似;陆地棉叶绿素a/b值表现苗期最大,然后迅速下降,海岛棉a/b值表现普遍低于陆地棉,其变化趋势为前期在7月4日出现峰值,然后下降再升高。实验说明陆地棉和海岛棉叶绿素的合成机制、调控机理可能不同。     

Side effect of some Neem products on natural enemies of Helicoverpa (Trichogramma spp.) and Chrysoperla carnea

Abstract

The present work was conducted to evaluate the side effect of Neem products as natural insecticide on some of natural enemies of Helicoverpa armigera Hüb. (Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla sp.). The work is divided into laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The laboratory experiments dealt with the side effects of Neem products: NeemAzal-T/S, NeemAzal Blank, NeemAzal PC 05 and NeemAzal PC 05 Blank on Trichogramma spp. and C. carnea (Stephen). Neem concentrations: 2, 1, 0.5 and 0.25% were arranged in a completely randomized block design and each treatment was replicated at least six times. Parasitism and emergence rates of T. pretiosum (Riley) and T. minutum (Riley), and predation rates of C. carnea and its longevity were investigated. The greenhouse experiments dealt with the side effects of Neem products on parasitism rates of T. pretiosum and T. minutum on three different cotton cultivars. There were no serious side effects on parasitism and emergence rates of Trichogramma spp. and on efficiency of Chrysoperla. Similarly, Neem products achieved a good control of H. armigera in laboratory and greenhouse. Therefore, Neem products are recommended for controlling Helicoverpa, and are compatible with mass release of Trichogramma and Chrysoperla for organic cotton production. Future field experiments are suggested to further elucidate the effects of Neem on H. armigera and its natural enemies.     

Diversifying animal models: the use of hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in infectious diseases

The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) has been a longstanding laboratory animal model of infectious diseases. In this review, the most common usage of hispid cotton rats as models of infectious diseases is discussed in detail and all organisms, which have been shown to infect cotton rats, are listed. A state of the art overview is given on handling and maintenance of hispid cotton rats as well as experimental techniques such as narcosis and blood withdrawal. Most importantly, through the development of new reagents, the hispid cotton rat can be used to study immune responses against the respective pathogen. Hispid cotton rat cytokine and chemokine genes have been sequenced and cotton rat specific antibodies and cell lines have been produced which in connection with the establishment of immunological methods should facilitate the use of hispid cotton rats as animal models in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases.     

新疆棉区转Bt基因棉对棉铃虫生物学的影响

棉铃虫Helicoverpaarmigera高龄幼虫取食转Bt基因棉花组织后 ,化蛹率、羽化率、蛹重、体长均有显著下降 ,在转Bt基因棉花上棉铃虫的取食行为也受到较大的影响 ,表现为取食次数明显减少、吐丝下垂次数明显增加 ;无论是转Bt基因棉花还是常规棉花 ,棉铃虫 3龄幼虫主要分布于繁殖器官上 ,在转Bt基因棉花各繁殖器官上的分布概率为 :花 >棉铃 >棉蕾 ,常规棉花上分布概率为 :棉蕾 >棉铃 >花 ;棉铃虫高龄幼虫取食转Bt基因棉花各组织 ,成虫羽化后产卵量、卵孵化率均有明显下降 ;在较低的棉铃虫虫口密度下 ,转Bt基因棉花对棉铃虫有一定的产卵排趋性。     

Leaf surface factors of transgenic Bt cotton associated with the feeding behaviors of cotton aphids: A case study on non-target effects

The present paper reports case study results of the risk assessment of transgenic Bt cotton on a non-target pest, cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii. Several types of techniques, i.e., electrical penetration graph (EPG), light and electron microscopy, bioassays and chemical analysis, were applied to investigate physical and chemical leaf factors of 2 transgenic Bt cotton lines (GK12 and GK19) and their pa-rental non-Bt cotton line (Simian3) associated with searching and feeding behaviors of cotton aphids on leaves or leaf extracts of cotton plants. EPG results showed that there were some differences among behaviors of cotton aphids on 2 Bt cotton and 1 non-Bt cotton lines. Cotton aphids performed similarly to leaf surface extracts from 3 cotton lines; and leaf surface chemicals, mainly volatiles and waxes, were almost identical in the components and concentrations among the cotton lines. However, three cotton lines were quite different from each other in the densities of certain kinds of covering trichomes. Therefore, the relationships between the physical characteristics and the searching behaviors of cotton aphids on the three cotton lines were constructed as the regression equations. Glandular trichomes and covering trichomes with 5 branches influenced the cotton aphids' searching behaviors effectively; and other trichomes with other branches affected aphids in varying ways. These results demonstrated that leaf surface physical factors of transgenic Bt cotton lines different from their parental non-Bt line could affect the penetration behaviors of non-target cotton aphids. Cotton aphids penetrate and feed more easily on two Bt cotton lines than on the non-Bt cotton line.     

Effect of pyramiding Bt and CpTI genes on resistance of cotton to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory and field conditions

Transgenic cotton (Cossypium hirsutum L.) varieties, adapted to China, have been bred that express two genes for resistance to insects, the CrylAc gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt), and a trypsin inhibitor gene from cowpea (CpTI). Effectiveness of the double gene modification in conferring resistance to cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was studied in laboratory and field experiments. In each experiment, performance of Bt+CpTI cotton was compared with Bt cotton and to a conventional nontransgenic variety. Larval survival was lower on both types of transgenic variety, compared with the conventional cotton. Survival of first-, second-, and third-stage larvae was lower on Bt+CpTI cotton than on Bt cotton. Plant structures differed in level of resistance, and these differences were similar on Bt and Bt + CpTI cotton. Likewise, seasonal trends in level of resistance in different plant structures were similar in Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton. Both types of transgenic cotton interfered with development of sixth-stage larvae to adults, and no offspring was produced by H. armigera that fed on Bt or Bt+CpTI cotton from the sixth stage onward. First-, second-, and third-stage larvae spent significantly less time feeding on transgenic cotton than on conventional cotton, and the reduction in feeding time was significantly greater on Bt+CpTI cotton than on Bt cotton. Food conversion efficiency was lower on transgenic varieties than on conventional cotton, but there was no significant difference between Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton. In 3-yr field experimentation, bollworm densities were greatly suppressed on transgenic as compared with conventional cotton, but no significant differences between Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton were found. Overall, the results from laboratory work indicate that introduction of the CpTI gene in Bt cotton raises some components of resistance in cotton against H. armigera, but enhanced control of H. armigera under field conditions, due to expression of the CpTI gene, was not demonstrated.     

盐碱土壤转Bt基因棉花外源蛋白表达量时空变化及对抗虫性的影响

盐碱地是潜在的可利用耕地资源,但土壤盐碱化严重制约了农业生产的可持续发展。基于棉花机械化程度低、劳动力成本和生产资料投入剧增、比较效益下降和实施粮食生产安全战略等因素影响,我国长江流域和黄河流域棉花面积锐减,种植区域向内陆盐碱旱地或滨海盐碱地转移,但目前针对盐碱地转Bt基因棉种植可能带来的生态安全性问题研究甚少,正成为国内外研究的焦点和热点。伴随着棉花向盐碱地大面积转移种植趋势,检测盐胁迫是否影响转基因抗虫棉抗虫性,明确其影响程度,直接关系到转基因抗虫棉种植的安全性,也是目前抗虫棉扩大生产中迫切需要解决的问题。以非转基因棉花为对照,分别在低盐、中盐和高盐土壤种植的棉花的苗期、蕾期和花铃期采样,室内测定了转Bt基因棉花叶片对棉铃虫幼虫校正死亡率和外源蛋白表达量。研究结果发现盐分胁迫下转Bt基因棉花苗期叶片对棉铃虫幼虫校正死亡率下降了9.22%—47.46%,蕾期下降了31.61%—45.42%,花铃期下降了3.59%—18.52%;土壤盐分显著降低了转Bt基因棉花叶片中外源蛋白的表达量,苗期功能叶外源蛋白表达量下降了7.66%—29.86%;蕾期下降了3.77%—36.85%;花铃期下降了18.13%—41.02%;相关性分析表明,盐分胁迫条件下转Bt基因棉花叶片中外源蛋白表达量与其对棉铃虫抗性程度存在正相关关系。结果表明,盐碱土壤显著降低了转Bt基因棉花叶片外源杀虫蛋白表达量,从而导致转Bt基因棉花叶片对棉铃虫的抗虫性下降。研究土壤盐分对转Bt基因棉花对棉铃虫的影响及其作用机制,可为建立盐碱地转Bt基因棉花田害虫综合防控技术体系、转Bt基因棉花环境安全评价及转Bt基因棉安全管理提供依据。     

转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab棉花生长势及其对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度的影响

【背景】转基因棉花在商业化种植之前,必须评价其环境安全性。其中新型棉花材料的生存竞争能力和对物种丰富度的影响是评价的重要内容。【方法】以转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab基因棉为试验材料,转Cry1Ac棉花中棉所41和非转基因棉花中棉所49为对照品种,分别于2014年5~9月对棉花株高、主茎叶片数、叶绿素含量、比叶面积、果枝数、蕾铃数等生长参数进行比较,同时对二代、三代和四代棉铃虫发生期棉田物种丰富度进行系统调查。【结果】转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花的生长势与转Cry1Ac棉花和非转基因棉花基本相当,没有表现出明显的竞争优势;产量构成参数在成铃和脱落等方面比非转基因棉表现出良好的优势。对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度的影响表明,转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花对靶标害虫棉铃虫具有良好的控制效果,对主要刺吸性害虫棉蚜、棉蓟马、烟粉虱、绿盲蝽与天敌龟纹瓢虫、草间小黑蛛、草蛉和小花蝽等的种群丰富度在个别时期有所影响,但总体上与转Cry1Ac棉田和非转基因棉田没有显著性差异。【结论与意义】转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花无竞争优势,但目标性状优势较好;对棉田节肢动物物种丰富度无明显影响。研究结果为新型转Cry1Ac＋Cry2Ab棉花对棉田环境安全方面的研究进一步补充了内容,为转基因棉花的环境安全评价提供科学数据。     

转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab棉对棉铃虫的控制作用及对天敌捕食烟粉虱功能反应的影响

文章以转Cry1Ac基因棉(中棉所41)和常规棉(中棉所49)为对照,研究了转Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab基因棉(639020)在棉花生长的关键时期——蕾期(二代棉铃虫发生期)、花期(三代棉铃虫发生期)和花铃期(四代棉铃虫发生期)对棉铃虫的控制作用,同时研究了639020棉田主要捕食性天敌(中华草蛉幼虫、龟纹瓢虫、小花蝽和草间小黑蛛)对烟粉虱的捕食功能,明确了639020棉花在生长的关键时期对棉铃虫的控制效果及对棉田主要捕食性天敌捕食功能反应的影响。结果表明,639020棉花对二代和三代棉铃虫具有良好的控制作用,抗虫性分别比中棉所41提高了52.85%和16.22%,其中前者差异达显著水平,后者差异不显著。在棉花蕾期、花期和花铃期,639020棉田棉铃虫落卵量都比中棉所41棉田和中棉所49棉田低(除二代棉铃虫发生期);棉铃虫幼虫数量都极显著低于常规棉,且都低于防治指标,但与中棉所41棉田无显著差异。639020棉田中华草蛉、龟纹瓢虫、小花蝽和草间小黑蛛对烟粉虱的捕食功能与中棉所41棉田和常规棉田相比无显著变化。研究结果以期为新型转基因棉花环境安全性研究及其外源基因的抗虫遗传效应和生产应用前景进行安全性评价。     

华北棉区玉米田三代棉铃虫种群动态及其对棉田发生为害的作用分析

本文通过玉米田、棉田中对棉铃虫(Heliogyis armigera)种群动态的系统调查和自然种群生命表的分析,明确了玉米田是三代棉钰虫的重要栖境。并且棉铃虫在玉米田的幼期死亡率显著高于棉田。通过棉田三代棉铃虫的影响指数分析,在9个变量中,玉米田与棉田种植面积的比值被确定为主动因素,而棉田二代棉铃虫卵量被确定为关键因素。最后通过当地1973-1991年共19年的资料对上述结果进行了检验,获得了满意的结果。     

Feeding of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda,on Bt transgenic cotton and its isoline

Studies on insect food intake and utilization are important for determining the degree of insect/plant association and host species’ resistance, and also for helping design pest management programs by providing estimates of potential economic losses, techniques for mass breeding of insects, and identifying physiological differences between species. We studied the feeding and development of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on transgenic (Bt) and non‐transgenic (non‐Bt) cotton. The larvae of S. frugiperda fed on Bt cotton had a longer development period (23.0 days) than those fed on non‐Bt cotton (20.2 days). Survivorship of S. frugiperda larvae fed on Bt cotton (74.1%) was lower than that of larvae fed on non‐Bt cotton (96.7%). Pupal weight of larvae fed on Bt cotton (0.042 g) was lower than that of larvae fed on non‐Bt cotton (0.061 g). The cotton cultivar significantly affected food intake, feces production, metabolization, and food assimilation by S. frugiperda larvae. However, it did not affect their weight gain. Intake of Bt‐cotton leaf (0.53 g dry weight) per S. frugiperda larva was lower than the intake of non‐Bt‐cotton leaf (0.61 g dry weight). Larvae fed on Bt‐cotton leaves produced less feces (0.25 g dry weight) than those fed on non‐Bt‐cotton leaves (0.37 g dry weight). Weight gain per S. frugiperda larva fed on Bt‐cotton leaves (0.058 g dry weight) was similar to the weight gain for larvae fed on non‐Bt‐cotton leaves (0.056 g dry weight). The cotton cultivar significantly affected the relative growth, consumption, and metabolic rates, as well as other nutritional indices: the figures were lower for larvae fed on Bt‐cotton leaves than for larvae fed on non‐transgenic cotton leaves.