Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrastii Medicus) is a common plant host of bollworms, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.), in the Mississippi River delta region of Ark., Miss., and La. Buds and blooms of this weed were attractive feeding and oviposition sites to females of both of these insect species during a period from about 30 days before and 40 days after peak blooming in cotton. Velvetleaf adequately supported the progeny of moths emerging from over-wintering pupae in the springtime and could support massive larval populations from Sept. to Nov. that later overwinter as pupae. Velvetleaf plants were host to about 20 times the number of tobacco budworms and 30 times the number of bollworms found on cotton between 17 May - 7 Nov. Sex ratios determined from eggs and larvae collected from velvetleaf and cotton were about 50:50 for both species. Velvetleaf was preferred for ovipositing, compared with cotton, by both bollworms and tobacco budworms. It is a persistent weed that provides nutrients for these Heliothinae populations each year in this delta region.