Life cycle data on individual eggs, larvae, pupae of Helicoverpa spp. from Australia (1986 to 2012)

We collected large numbers of Helicoverpa eggs, larvae and pupae in various major crop types in several cotton production regions in eastern Australia over 26 years and reared them to determine parasitoid frequencies. In addition, more limited collections were made on minor crops, exotic weeds and native vegetation (the latter also surveyed in inland Australia).\nLineage: Eggs were collected during visual inspections of plants. Larvae were collected during either visual inspections or sweep netting. Sampling for pupae involved hand-digging of the surface soil, taken to a depth of 10 cm. Helicoverpa eggs, larvae and pupae (separation of species not attempted) were collected both if they appeared healthy and if they were clearly parasitised or diseased at the time of collection. Eggs, larvae and pupae were reared individually in the laboratory on artificial diet, until a moth or parasitoid emerged or the insect died for other reasons.

本数据集基于26年的野外采集与室内饲养工作构建：研究团队于澳大利亚东部多个棉花主产区的各类主要作物田中采集了大量实夜蛾属（Helicoverpa）的卵、幼虫与蛹，并通过饲养实验明确其寄生性天敌（parasitoid）的寄生频率。此外，研究团队还在次要作物、外来杂草及原生植被（后者亦在澳大利亚内陆区域开展了调查）中开展了规模相对有限的样本采集。
样本采集规范如下：卵通过对植株进行目视检查获取；幼虫可通过目视检查或扫网法采集；蛹的采样需人工挖掘深度为10cm的表层土壤。
本次采集的实夜蛾属卵、幼虫与蛹未进行物种区分，且涵盖两类个体：采集时外观健康的个体，以及明显已被寄生或感染病害的个体。
所有卵、幼虫与蛹均在实验室中以人工饲料单独饲养，直至成虫（蛾）或寄生性天敌羽化，或因其他原因死亡。