[Aim]  To determine the effects of different artificial diet preservatives on the growth, development and reproduction of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, in order to improve the captive propagation of this species. [Methods]  Offspring of H. armigera were collected in the field and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (diet 1, diet 2 and diet 3), which were fed artificial diets with different preservatives for three generations. The preservative in diet 1 was sorbic acid, that in diet 2 was sorbic acid and formaldehyde and that in diet 3 was sorbic acid and methylparaben. Developmental indices of larvae in each treatment group, such as developmental duration, pupation rate, pupal weight and egg production, were measured and compared. [Results]  The different preservatives had a significant effect on developmental duration, pupation rate and pupal weight, but no significant effect in female fecundity or the hatching rate of eggs laid by females raised on each diet. After 3 generations, larvae raised on diet 2 had a significantly higher pupation rate than those raised on diet 1 or diet 3, and the highest female fecundity. [Conclusion]  Using a combination of sorbic acid and formaldehyde as the preservative of an artificial diet for H. armigera can significantly reduce larval mortality, increase the number of adults produced and adult female fecundity.