This investigation demonstrates the influence of the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene, which is an insect growth regulator, on female Helicoverpa armigera adult reproduction and longevity as well as on the development of their F1 progeny. Female moths were treated with different methoprene concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 µg in 2 µl acetone) on the first day of eclosion. As the methoprene concentration was increased, adult longevity gradually decreased but female fecundity increased greatly. The highest dose (10 µg) did not produce significant effects on female fecundity, but dramatically decreased adult longevity and caused a decline in cumulative survival of F1 immature stages, especially eclosion, but had no significant effects on egg hatch and pupation. The developmental periods of F1 larvae were significantly shortened in 1 and 5 µg methoprene-treated groups. F1 pupal periods had no significant difference among all methoprene-treated groups. The results show that methoprene affects not only reproduction and longevity in the adult but also life-history traits in their F1 progeny.