<p class="MDPI12titleori1" style="mso-line-height-alt: 14.0pt;">Abundance of Cotton Bollworms and Their Impact on Production in Cotton-Growing Areas in Côte d’Ivoire from 2021 to 2024

Cotton is integral to the rural economy of Côte d'Ivoire. However, it faces challenges such as pest infestations, notably carpophagous Lepidoptera. The recent incursion of the leafhopper Amrasca biguttula has disrupted existing plant protection strategies, resulting in the resurgence of key lepidopteran pests. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of damage inflicted by the primary species of bollworms on cotton crops within this altered context. The results indicated that Helicoverpa armigera remained the most prevalent exocarpic Lepidoptera species, followed by Earias spp. and Diparopsis watersi. Helicoverpa armigera infestations are more severe in the late planting stage, and this species is present throughout the cotton-growing region. Earias spp. and Diparopsis watersi larvae were more abundant in the northeastern cotton-growing area. Among the two endocarpic Lepidoptera species, Pectinophora gossypiella was more prevalent than Thaumatotibia leucotreta. A negative and significant correlation (r = -0.45; p = 0.001) was observed between damage by bollworms and seed cotton yield, underscoring the economic importance of these pests. These findings underscore the necessity of tailoring protection strategies to align with the specific species present, the characteristics of the production areas, and the timing of the sowing periods.