Control of Helicoverpa armigera is being forced towards minimising reliance on broad spectrum insecticides. Serious environmental concerns have emerged over the extensive use of highly toxic, non-specific compounds to control this species. Pest resurgence associated with the destruction of natural enemies and the development of high levels of insecticide resistance have lead to the steady increase in the use of biopesticides and transgenic plants containing insecticidal proteiris from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).