Influence of floral traits on the behavior and development of Helicoverpa zea in hemp (Cannabis sativa)

Corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) is a key floral pest in hemp, yet little is known about how hemp’s floral traits, such as flower morphology, cannabinoid, and terpene content, influence pest behavior and larval success. We evaluated several hemp floral germplasms that exhibit diverse floral morphologies and phytochemical profiles for their influence on moth oviposition behavior and larval performance under greenhouse and lab conditions, respectively. Our experiments showed that oviposition and larval performance varied significantly across hemp germplasms. Certain germplasms exhibited reduced larval success and low oviposition rate, suggesting antibiosis and antixenotic effects, respectively. These findings implicate specific floral traits, including morphology, cannabinoid composition, and terpene profiles, as influential factors in host selection and herbivore performance.