Field and laboratory colonies of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens (F.) were exposed to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins to compare different mortality and mortality stunting responses. Lethal concentrations for mortality (LC₅₀s), molt inhibitory concentrations for mortality surviving L1 larvae (MIC₅₀s), and inhibitory concentrations for mortality surviving L1 and L2 larvae (IC₅₀s) were established to describe the different responses across a range of test concentrations. MIC₅₀S and IC₅₀s at 7 d significantly correlated to LC₅₀s at 7 d, but MIC₅₀s were more closely correlated with MIC₅₀s than IC₅₀s. Experiments conducted to determine the fate of survivors (larval stage L1, L2, or L3 larvae) after 7 d of exposure of Bt toxin and transfer to untreated or Bt-treated diet revealed that significant numbers of stunted larvae recovered and survived to pupation. Percentage of survival was significantly higher for larvae fed untreated diet after 7 d on Bt-treated diet, but a few survivors also were found when larvae were fed only Bt diet. Survival to pupation of larvae classified as L1 at 7 d was significantly lower than those for L2 or L3 larvae at 7 d, indicating that many stunted larvae suffer chronic effects of the initial exposure to Bt and fail to reach the next life stage. Pupation of larvae classified as L1 at 7d was reduced and delayed in comparison with those for L2 and L3 larvae at 7d. Collectively, these data suggest that MIC₅₀ estimates at 7 d more accurately project total larval mortality from Bt exposure than do LC₅₀ or IC₅₀ at 7 d.