Monitoring Flight Activity of Phycitine Moths in the Warehouse by Using Pheromone Traps PDF

Keywords

dates, pheromone traps, moths

Abstract

Seasonal light activities of Ephestia cautella (Walker), Ephestia calidella (Geunec), Ephestia figulilella (Gregson), Ephestia clutclla (Hubner), Ephestia Kuchniclla (Zeller) and Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), were monitored with pheromone traps during 1985/1986, 1986/1987, 1987/1988 and 1988/1989. Results revealed that all Ephestia species occurred simultaneously in the dates warehouse and their adult populations fluctuated in the same manner. In all storage periods, the flight activity for all Ephestia species in addition to Plodia interpunctella was relatively high in October at the time where the dates were brought to the warehouses for storage. Thereafter, the flight gradually decreased in late November until it reached zero catches from December to March. It was then followed by an increase in activity again in carly April, peaked in mid-April 10 mid-May and ended in September during 1986 and in July during the other years, after the dates had been completely marketed. However, the zero catches during winter months may have resulted from the extreme cold temperature or due to the larvae of all species entering diapause. Data from pheromone traps may be useful in determining the proper time of application of insecticides in dates warehouses