Our use of Cookies

This site uses only cookiesstrictly necessaryto ensure the site works correctly.

Please read about how we use cookies.

Hide this message

Strictly necessary and non-essential cookies

Accept all cookies

Accept necessary cookies only

Set Cookie Preferences

By clicking accept all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies and to our cookie policy.

We use third-party cookies on this site.

You have accepted necessary cookies only

You can change your cookie settings at any time

Hide this message

UK Risk Register Details for Helicoverpa armigera

This record was last updated on 07/01/2021

Common Names

  • African cotton bollworm
  • Corn earworm
  • Cotton bollworm
  • Old World bollworm
  • Scarce bordered straw
  • Tobacco budworm
  • Tomato grub

Scenario and Pathways

Scenario for Risk Register

  • show / hide
  • Pest is introduced

Pathway Assessed for Entry to UK

  • show / hide
  • Natural spread

Common Pathways

  • show / hide
  • Plants for planting (except seeds bulbs and tubers)
  • Cut flowers or branches
  • Fruits or vegetables
  • Passengers
  • Natural spread

Risk Ratings and Current Mitigations

Unmitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 4
Spread [1 - 5] 5
Impact [1 - 5] 2
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 4
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 8
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 32

Current Mitigations

  • show / hide

Key mitigation for pest

Regulated quarantine pest (Great Britain).

Regulation

Surveillance

Industry Scheme

Contingency Plan

Awareness

Research

Mitigated Risks

Likelihood [1 - 5] 3
Spread [1 - 5] 5
Impact [1 - 5] 2
Value at Risk [1 - 5] 4
Likelihood x Impact [1 - 25] 6
UK Relative Risk Rating [1 - 125] 24

Proposed Actions

Proposed Actions

Regulation

Deregulation

Management By Industry

Targeted Survey

PRA

Contingency Plan

Publicity

Research

Distribution and Pest Details

Distribution

Country / Territory Status Notes
Europe
Albania Present
Austria Present
Belgium Present
Bulgaria Present
Cyprus Present
Finland Present
France Present
Germany Present
Greece Present
Hungary Present
Italy Present
Republic of North Macedonia Present
Malta Present
Poland Present
Portugal Present
Romania Present
Russia Present
Serbia Present
Slovakia Present
Slovenia Present
Spain Present
Switzerland Present
Türkiye Present
Ukraine Present
United Kingdom Absent
South America
Paraguay Present
Uruguay Present
Brazil Present
Argentina Present
Oceania
Australia Present
Fiji Present
Kiribati Present
Marshall Islands Present
Micronesia Present
New Caledonia Present
New Zealand Present
Palau Present
Papua New Guinea Present
Samoa Present
Solomon Islands Present
Tonga Present
Tuvalu Present
Vanuatu Present
Africa
Algeria Present
Angola Present
Benin Present
Botswana Present
Burkina Faso Present
Burundi Present
Cameroon Present
Cabo Verde Present
Central African Republic Present
Chad Present
Congo (Brazzaville) Present
Congo (Democratic Rep.) Present
Cote d'Ivoire Present
Egypt Present
Ethiopia Present
Gabon Present
Gambia Present
Ghana Present
Guinea Present
Kenya Present
Lesotho Present
Libya Present
Madagascar Present
Malawi Present
Mali Present
Mauritania Present
Mauritius Present
Mayotte Present
Morocco Present
Mozambique Present
Namibia Present
Niger Present
Nigeria Present
Reunion Present
Rwanda Present
Senegal Present
Seychelles Present
Sierra Leone Present
Somalia Present
South Africa Present
Sudan Present
[Kingdom of] eSwatini Present
Tanzania Present
Togo Present
Tunisia Present
Uganda Present
Zambia Present
Zimbabwe Present
Asia
South Korea Present
Sri Lanka Present
Syria Present
Taiwan Present
Tajikistan Present
Thailand Present
Turkmenistan Present
United Arab Emirates Present
Uzbekistan Present
Vietnam Present
Yemen Present
Afghanistan Present
Armenia Present
Azerbaijan Present
Bangladesh Present
Bhutan Present
Cambodia Present
China Present
Georgia Present
India Present
Indonesia Present
Iran Present
Iraq Present
Israel Present
Japan Present
Jordan Present
Kazakhstan Present
Kuwait Present
Kyrgyzstan Present
Laos Present
Lebanon Present
Malaysia Present
Myanmar Present
Nepal Present
North Korea Present
Pakistan Present
Philippines Present
Russia Present
Saudi Arabia Present
Singapore Present
Central America
Puerto Rico Present
Panama Present

Type of Pest

  • Insect (Lepidoptera)

Host or Industry at Risk

  • show / hide

Total protected cultivation

Major Hosts

  • Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
  • Allium L.
  • Arachis hypogaea L.
  • Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp./Huth
  • Capsicum annuum L.
  • Cicer arietinum L.
  • Cucurbitaceae
  • Chrysanthemum x morifolium Ramat.
  • Glycine max (L.) Merr.
  • Guizotia abyssinica (L.F.) Cass.
  • Helianthus annuus L.
  • Linum usitatissimum L.
  • Solanum lycopersicum L.
  • Mangifera indica L.
  • Medicago sativa L.
  • Nicotiana tabacum L.
  • Phaseolus L.
  • Phaseolus vulgaris L.
  • Pinus radiata D.Don
  • Prunus L.
  • Solanum melongena L.
  • Solanum tuberosum L.
  • Sorghum vulgare Pers.
  • Zea mays L.
  • Citrus
  • Brassicaceae (family)
  • Gossypium hirsutum

Threats to Protected Cultivation

  • Only protected crops

Forest Tree Pests and Pathogens

Further Information

PRA Availability

UK (2007)

Regulation and EPPO listing

  • show / hide

Regulated quarantine pest (Great Britain). EPPO A2

Actions Indicated

  • show / hide

Action

Statutory action in line with legislation.

General Comments

Polyphagous moth pest present in much of the Old World. Regular migrant to the UK from established populations in southern Europe.

Risk Records for this Pest