Feeding responses of Helicoverpa armigera larvae to citric acid, sucrose, quinine and NaCl respresenting 4 basic human taste materials of sour, sweet, bitter and salty, and 2 plant extracts of numb, piquancy taste, were tested in the laboratory by leaf-disc method. Orthogonal experimental results showed that the selection percentages of bollworm feeding on tobacco leaves treated with sweet, bitter and piquancy taste compounds (sucrose, quinine and extract of Capsicum annuum) were higher, indicating the larvae had the better adaptability to sweet, bitter, and piquancy taste compounds. In contrast, the feeding amount of bollworm larvae on tobacco leaves treated with salty, sour, and numb taste compounds (NaCl, citric acid, and extract of Zanthoxylum bungeanum) was less. The taste compounds of salty, sour, and numb had very strong antifeedant activity on bollworm larvae. The feeding amount of larvae was closely related to the doses of Z. bungeanum extract in the choice bioassay,whilst it was related to NaCl dosages in non-choice bioassay.