Cotton shoot weevil, Alcidodes affaber A. is one of the major pests in Karnataka. The female weevil made one to four scoops on the lower side of the petiole or tender stem and deposited single egg covering with cellulose fibre obtained from the host parts. Distinct ovipositional preferences were observed in relation to the petiole thickness of host. Among the 16 cotton genotypes evaluated, two arboreum, viz. G-22, AK-235 and three herbaceums, i.e. DB 3-12, Jayadhar and Suyodhar were found less preferred for oviposition since these are with narrow petiole base (0.27 to 0.30 cm) when compared to G. hirsutum types with wider petiole base (0.31 to 0.57 cm)